Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has said there will be conference via video communication on December 21, 2022 between the commission and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to kick-start preparation for 2023 Hajj. He stated this in his keynote address, yesterday, in Abuja at a stakeholders meeting on hajj.
According to him, “Hajj 2023 is around the corner, it behoves on us all to focus on proper planning and prudence, bearing in mind that our goal is to please Allah through our intending pilgrims, who invested so much with the sole aim of serving their Lord.
“In addition, I am happy to inform you all that unlike last hajj, when the preparation started late due to absence of information, the Ministry of Hajj and Umra has intimated us that arrangement for Hajj 2023 will begin with a conference via video communication scheduled for December 21, 2022 between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the Ministry.”
Hassan said NAHCON is blessed with several stakeholders with whom it shares symbiotic relationships to function, adding: “If each of us play our individual role dedicatedly and sincerely before the Almighty, we will always return here to celebrate our successes.
” In this regard, I wish to salute the support of all stakeholders in the successful execution of Hajj 2022 operations despite the challenges. We remain committed in serving our pilgrims well and with your support, we are confidant that this is achievable.”
NAHCON Chairman/CEO recalled, “the conjectural nature of hajj fare in Nigeria is the major factor that forced NAHCON to start the implementation of the Hajj Savings Scheme without delay.”
He noted, “the scheme is an arrangement that offers an intending pilgrim a long-term contributory platform to pay for hajj gradually within a desired period. This arrangement has the potential of boosting early hajj preparation with the prospect of enabling Hajj subsidy in future.”
Hassan commended the leadership of the Pilgrims Boards in all states for their contribution and patriotism in the execution of Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), and by extension, all other stakeholders.
“Our Policy for Hajj 2023 is to maintain the status quo; that is to run the HSS concurrently with the Conventional pay-as-you-go, as it was for this year’s Hajj,” he said.
