IHR
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and JAIZ Bank plc has today signed an agreement to formally kick start the Hajj Saving Scheme.
The event was held inside the conference hall of Hajj House in Abuja.
In attendance were representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Permanent Secretary General Services in the office of the SGF, Barrister Olusegun Adeyemi Adekunle, FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello was also represented by immediate past Director of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Bashir Muhammad.
NAHCON Chairman, Barr Zikrullah Kunle Hassan in his opening address said ” The Hajj Saving Scheme is a platform enshrined in the NAHCON Establishment Act 2006, as a contributory payment Scheme for prospective Muslims wishing to undertake pilgrimage to Makkah’
The Chairman lauded past leaders of NAHCON for their “spirit and good intention in formulating the Act as well as their doggedness”
“I want to salute the spirit and good intention of the formulator of the Act as well as the doggedness of the past leadership of the Commission_ Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and Barrister Abdullahi Muhammad Mukhtar (MON, FCIA)_ who steadfastly made very significant progress to address and implement the Hajj Savings Scheme through many study visits to Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and uncountable meetings with relevant stakeholders to come up with this working tool”.
“Today, we are launching the decade old innovative Hajj Savings Scheme which has been in the pipeline even before the establishment of the Hajj Commission of Nigeria. The launching of the Bank- led option is designed to fast-track and press forward the implementation of the Scheme. In other words, the event of today is, but just a stop-gap to secure the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) License to operate the Scheme as a FULL-FLEDGED contributory scheme”
The MD of Jaiz Bank, Hassan Usman recognised the hardwork and commitment of both current and past boards to actualize the scheme. He thanked the board and management of Jaiz for committing to help run the scheme “not just because it makes sense as a bank but because it is set up to meet with the yearnings and aspirations of the Ummah in particular and Nigeria in general”
The Chairman of Jaiz Bank Umar Mutallab in a brief remark also said “the agreement to be signed is a significant milestone for all Hajj stakeholders in Nigeria. “
He said with the scheme, intending pilgrims can gradually plan to actualise their dream of performing Hajj.
He added that state will also have the opportunity to plan better and in the long run become self-sustaining
