The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed satisfaction with the quality of facilities available at the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
The Director, Inspectorate and Compliance of the commission, Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shamaki, who gave the commendation during the inspection of Katsina State Pilgrims Boards facilities on Tuesday said he was particularly impressed with the information communication technology equipment at the board.
“Actually our visit here is impressive. I am particularly impressed with their ICT facilities here, as you know; ICT has taken over all activities of Hajj.
“I am also impressed with the store, screening centre and demonstration centre also because it is a very useful means of teaching Hajj practically to intending pilgrims,” he said.
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He also said his committee would look at all other aspects of the inspection and grade the board accordingly.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Suleiman Nuhu Koki said the board used the idle time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a window of opportunity to plan for Umrah operations.
“If not for the suspension and ban on entry placed on Nigeria by the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA), the first contingent of Umrah pilgrims from the state would have been in Saudi Arabia by January this year,” he said.
Alh Kuki also informed the visiting NAHCON team about the boards’ collaboration with the state primary health care development agency.
“On our commitment towards planning a hitch-free 2022 Hajj operations, we have in conjunction with the state primary health care development agency conducted the first and second COVID-19 vaccination exercise to all our 2020/2021 Hajj roll-over intending pilgrims and officials,” he said.
Giving more details on the structure of the board, Kuki explained that “the headquarters of the board is structured into five Departments and 8 Zonal offices to ease process of registration of intending pilgrims”.
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“Very soon the board will organize its second retreat aimed at enhancing the capacity of the staff. He added that the board will also convene a stakeholders meeting of all agencies involved in Hajj operations to fashion out strategies for the conduct of a hitch-free 2022 Hajj exercise”.
The Katsina State Pilgrims Boss expressed appreciation to the state Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari for his support especially in the areas of capacity building for the staff of the board.
