By Ahmed Ahmed
Ahead Hajj 2020, the government of Bauchi state has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for ensuring quality services, comfort and satisfaction of pilgrims.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Muhammad Sani Yunusa Information officer of the state Mulsms welfare pilgrims Board made available to Hajj reporters in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The statement also said the Special Adviser on pilgrims Affairs Hon. Isa Babayo Tilde confirmed the development while briefing journalists on their recent visit to Saudi Arabia, which was aimed at achieving success in the management of 2020 hajj operation.
“Babayo Tilde said the MOU was in line with the agreement reached between the Nigerian embassy and Saudi Arabia, recently held at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Makkah” it said.
Tilde said based on the agreement; coordination of feeding and accommodating of Nigerian pilgrims during their stay in Madina is the sole responsibility of NAHCON, while states are to coordinate the feeding and accommodation arrangements to their pilgrims in Makkah.
The SA also said a plan has been in place by the Governor Bala Abdulkadir Administration to retain the accommodation used by Bauchi state pilgrims in Makkah during Hajj 2018,
Tilde said the accommodation was strategically located along Al-Hijrah street, which is very close to the Haram.
Mallam Yunusa in the statement also said the Adviser emphasized the effort by the administration to give all necessary support for the smooth conduct of 2020 hajj operation and therefore called on the general public to pray for the present administration to succeed on its good policies and programmes.
According to him, “Tilde pointed out that a highlight of the agreement-signing ceremony conducted in Saudi Arabia was a special prayer offered to Governor Bala Abdulkadir of Bauchi State, appreciating his outstanding contributions to the National Hajj Affairs, particularly for allocating a Land to NAHCON when he was FCT Minister”.
