PRESS RELEASE
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and officials of the Islamic Development Bank have agreed to deepen the economic cooperation between the two organizations.
Rising from a meeting held on Thursday at the Jeddah headquarters of the Bank, the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Alh Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, stressed the need for support and intervention of the bank in the areas of employment of Nigerians in the organisation and seasonal slaughtering job, capacity-building, and facilitating the full take-off of Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) and supply of medical equipment to the Clinics.
“Nigeria is one of the Muslim-populated country, we require your support in poverty reduction efforts. Specifically, we want your intervention in the employment of Nigerians in the seasonal livestock slaughtering during the Hajj and distribution of Hajj meat to Nigerians In the same way, we need your assistance in capacity building of our staff and supply of instructional and medical equipment for the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) and Clinic”, he stated.
In his remarks the Deputy Coordinator General of the Is DB, Dr Umar Adiya, said that Nigeria has always been part of the Bank’s partner and would be accorded a place of priority, adding that the Commission’s request falls within the bank’s ambit.
He further stated the need to explore the sustainable future of the Hadaya project if the bank must serve the purpose of its establishment. ” If we must guarantee the future of Hadaya project, then NAHCON must strive to support and encourage pilgrims to participate and key into the scheme to sustain it “
While acknowledging the existence of the” black market” as posing danger to the scheme, he explained that the only way to win the fight against them is through education.” The black-market activities have been detrimental to the scheme, I know, but while they cannot be eliminated, education is the tool to fight them”, he declares.
SIGNED
Mousa Ubandawaki
Assistant Director, Information and Publications
NAHCON
