Hajj 2018: NAHCON tasked on reform

Stakeholders in Hajj and Umrah services have urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to carry all stakeholders along in the wave of reforms in Hajj operations to sustain and improve on the successes recorded so far.

They made the call yesterday in Abuja at the 24th National, states, local governments and other Hajj stakeholders’ conference themed: “Appraisal of 2017 Hajj Operations for Consolidation and Efficiency” organised by the Consultancy Services.

Speaking on “Appraisal of the activities of Hajj Service Providers for More Effective Service Delivery” the Director, Baynakum Family Counselling Centre, Abuja Dr. Abdulfattah Adeyemi, said the success of hajj exercise in Nigeria was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders which must be sustained and improved upon.

According to him, the ongoing reform of the operation by NAHCON has yielded ITEC positive results especially in the 2017 hajj and that the stakeholders must be involved to sustain the gains.

The Director of ITEC Abdulwakeel Abdulwahab said the reform in the sector by NAHCON should be carried out with human face so that stakeholders and pilgrims would not see it as dictatorial.

According to him, one of the major issues that impaired the last operation was the high Hajj fare, which was increased by almost 50 per cent compared to the preceding year.