Pilgrims
By Salisu Idris
The newly inaugurated Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Bar. Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan has pledged to work assiduously toward reducing the number of days Nigerian pilgrims spend in Saudi Arabia during pilgrimage.
Hassan made the commitment at the inauguration of the new Board of NAHCON at Hajj House, on Thursday in Abuja.
He also promised to ensure the take-off of the long-awaited International Hajj Training Institute in interest and conscience of the commission and Muslim ummah in the country.
” Our journey will not be complete until we find a better way that our pilgrims must not have to wait and spend long days in Saudi Arabia or boarding the aircraft.
” I believe it is the only source of hope to sustain the foundation, legacies and success of this great edifice called NAHCON.
” I’m confident that with common effort and common purpose with passion and dedication, we can achieve and answer the call of history to make NAHCON the doyen and pride of all Muslim Ummah in the country.
” And become a blessed child in whom the Federal Government will be well pleased, “Hassan said.
Similarly, he pledges to continue the never-ending journey to improve, elevate and uplift the Hajj administration in Nigeria to an enviable height.
He commended the founding fathers of NAHCON whose labor and brow sweat formed the rock on which the foundation of the commission was laid in 2006 when the enabling law establishing NAHCON was passed.
The new NAHCON boss thanked President, Muhammadu Buhari, for finding him worthy and gave him the privilege to steer the affairs of the commission for the next four years to the ‘Next Level.’
Hassan assured that the board of NAHCON under his leadership would make the staff and their welfare the anchor of it policies.
According to him, no one has a greater stake in a viable and prosperous future of NAHCON than the staff.
“Therefore let us each of us embrace the solemn duty to contribute our energy to drive the management policy thrust.
“I want to pledge our commitment to your welfare by giving you your rights and privilege without discrimination or bias.
“In this connection, we intend to pursue the upscale capacity building and skill acquisition through training and retraining of every category of staff to new trends and development in Hajj and also ensuring the take-off of the long-awaited International Hajj Training Institute.”
