Ahead of inaugural flight of intending pilgrims, the advance team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will depart Abuja today for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The advance team of 35 officials and eight medical personnel are bid to perfect final preparation to receive the first set of Nigerian pilgrims from Kebbi state scheduled to arrive in the Kingdom on Wednesday 15th May 2024.
Addressing the Team during a brief farewell ceremony on Saturday in Abuja, Chairman of the commission, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi urged the contingent to live up to expectation and entrusted duties in accordance with their mandate.
Malam Arabi cautioned that the Commission would take drastic steps against anyone found deviated from the rules of engagement, adding that he would not hesitate to recall any staff guilty of dereliction of duties.
According to the Chairman, “You are the first point of call or contact with the pilgrims. Their impression and perception of your actions or activities will go a long way towards assessing the Commission. If you get it right, we get it right and on the contrary, if you get it wrong, the rest will just be about crisis management.
“Therefore, you must be up and doing in order to earn our reward here and that of Allah in the Hereafter for treating His Guests well. They are the reason you are there, so at every point in time, make sure you attend or treat them with courtesy and respect.
” You are advised to take the admonition seriously, the bar has been raised and the expectation is high. You have been carefully selected because of the trust we have in you and as such, you need to brace up. Laxity and procrastination will not be tolerated.”
Malam Arabi also called on the need for medical personnel to respect their patients and pilgrims added that pilgrims must be served fairly, gently and with utmost respect.
“I want to urge you to work as a team, cooperate with one another. Those of you who are veterans should assist and guide those who are new to the job so that we can achieve success collectively.” He noted.
Commissioner in charge of Operations, Prince Anofiu Olarewaju Elegushi, also called on the team to be good ambassadors of the Commission and assured them of the Management’s support.
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Elegushi urged the advance team to be patient with the pilgrims, minimize their complaints and focus on the task at hand. He prayed for Allah’s guidance on the Team in carrying out their assignment successfully.
In the same vein, the Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar .A. Yagawal enjoined the team to represent the Commission well while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Responding on behalf of the team, Alhaji Ibrahim Mahmud, who is the Madina Coordinator, assured the management the readiness to make this year’s Hajj more successful.
A statement by Mousa Ubandanwaki, Deputy Director, Information & Publications Division at the commission said the team is to organize and coordinate the reception, accommodation, feeding and transportation, health and general welfare of the pilgrims held in the Holy land throughout the Hajj period.
