Upbeat swing as Hajj Commission counts blessings
CHAIRMAN, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON), Barr. Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has disclosed that activities at the hajj house were significantly transformed in the last 12 months despite the devasting impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Barr. Zikrullah, who spoke with journalists recently while marking his first anniversary as NAHCON chief, explained that the new board has built a solid foundation in the last one year.
The fourth board of NAHCON under the leadership of Barr. Zikrullah was been working to transform hajj exercise in line with global best standards.
Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not allow the participation of international pilgrims in 2020 Hajj, Barr. Zikrullah said substantial targets were accomplished in the year under review. Among achievements recorded with a year in office, he said, are successful launch of Hajj Saving Scheme HSS, digitalisation of hajj activities, renovation and reinvigoration of zonal offices.
According to Zikrullah, “Since we assumed duties as the fourth board of NAHCON, despite all the challenges from the COVID- 19 pandemic, we made efforts to move the activities of the Commission to the next level and enhance Hajj operations in the country generally.
“Last year, precisely in February, when we formally assumed office, we immediately swung into action by continuing the preparations of Hajj 2020 from where our predecessors stopped. At that time, the intending pilgrims had paid their Hajj fares when COVID- 19 began spreading globally like a wildfire. This also led to the partial participation in the performance of Hajj last year.
“The situation of the Coronavirus did not discourage the Commission from its preparations. As at the time the Saudi Authorities made its official pronouncement on 2020 Hajj operations worldwide, the Commission was ready for the operation.
Zikrullah revealed that while the
Commission was preparing for 2020 Hajj operation, the board deemed it fit to continue pursuing some of the goals it desired to achieve within the first four years of tenure.
He said: “Let me emphasise that the fourth board carefully studied the situation of Hajj operations in Nigeria; it came to conclusion that the actualisation of the establishment of the Hajj Savings Scheme in the country is the only lasting panacea to Hajj affordability and successful operations.
“Alhamdulillah, Hajj Savings Scheme is a baby, which has been nurtured by the past leaderships of the Commission. When we came on board, the immediate predecessor had moved the effort to the advanced stage.
“Towards the end of last year, the long awaited Hajj Savings Scheme was signed and subsequently successfully launched in Kano and Lagos at different times. Ever since, the Commission has been embarking on robust campaigns and sensitisation of the general Muslim public for acceptability of the scheme in our society.”
He said further, “The massive registration of intending Pilgrims we are witnessing with the scheme is as a result of that interaction. Nigerian Muslims are keying into the scheme, in less than three months of launching, a good number of Muslims are already into the scheme.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to assure you that Hajj Savings Scheme has come to stay in Nigeria and with the scheme on ground, 60 per cent of Hajj operations’ perennial challenges will be solved.
“Nigeria’s Hajj authorities will have enough time to plan well ahead of time, which will allow for more sanity in the performance of Hajj. By the time the scheme matures fully, it will boost and invigorate our national economy and provide employment for our youths”.
The chairman said the Commission also intends to achieve the professionalisation of Hajj administration in Nigeria, explaining that the Commission has concluded all the interface with the necessary stakeholders, adding that discussions were being finalised with the NBTE for approval of academic curriculum for the proposed National Hajj Training Institute.
“To complement the efforts and in spite of the lean resources of the Commission, we provide optimal priority on the staff training Skills development.
“As I am speaking to you, so many members of staff of the Commission have either undergone training or are on training, both locally and internationally, and this will continue to enable most of our staff benefit from the training in order to enhance their productivity.
“Another scorecard for the Commission is in the area of digital transformation. About a month ago, the Commission was able to successfully launch a Digital Transformation Master Plan.”
He revealed that the project is a complete automation of process and procedures as well as human capacity development in line with NITDA e- government strategy aimed at attaiing high efficiency in delivery services to Nigerian Pilgrims.
“At present, the Commission has accomplished the following areas of the project. Deployment of Financial Software System ( 80 per cent Completion); Deployment and complete setup of Data Economic Centre ( DEC) in collaboration with NITDA; Deployment of smart system for Licensing & Registration of Hajj Travel Agencies ( 70 per cent completion); and, Deployment and adoption of the
Digital Transformation Master Plan.
“On completion of this important project, the Human Resources Management System, the Secretariat Management System and the E- Library System will be incorporated into the automation to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness from these systems.”