Hajj 2023: NAHCON Airlifts 30, 381 Pilgrims, Vows not to Compromise Welfare
AREWA AGENDA – As the airlift of Nigerians to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj exercise enters the 12th day with 30, 381 pilgrims airlifted in 72 flights, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured all stakeholders of its readiness to prioritise their welfare and deal promptly with any challenge they encounter in the course of their stay in the Holy Land.
The Commission had mapped out a 25-day airlift plan to be concluded before closure of the King Fahd International Airport, Jeddah on the 22nd of June, 2023.
In a statement by its Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, the Commission assured the public that “it is committed to providing the best services for its pilgrims at all times,” adding that NAHCON had dispatched a team to Saudi Arabia in advance to ensure that accommodation and catering service arrangements were in order before the arrival of the country’s pilgrims.
Read Also:
“Before then, the Commission had screened and selected capable hands in catering services to feed Nigerian pilgrims while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and secured sufficiently standard accommodations for them. In addition to these selections, the Commission put in place such mechanisms for checks and balances that would ensure service providers render the services they were paid for dully without shortchanging the Nigerian pilgrims. Among these mechanisms are clearly stated terms and conditions of engagements, signing of agreements to that respect and advance payment for the services; followed by constant monitoring and supervision by NAHCON staff; plus a complaint portal and open door to receive such complaints where any oversight might have occurred. The complaint line is open 24/7 in Hausa, Fulfulde, Yoruba and Igbo on 097000780. Alternatively, one can visit NAHCON’s portal on nahcon.gov.ng then scroll through the resources for complaint management portal.
“Hence, NAHCON enjoins any pilgrim with complaint over poor services rendered (whether in poor catering services, transportation, sanitation and other unsatisfactory service delivery) to lodge same through the aforementioned channels or contact NAHCON’s Madinah and Makkah coordinators with their grievances for such issues to be addressed immediately,” the statement read in part.
According to the statement, the Commission would not hesitate to deal decisively and promptly with any issues pertaining to the wellbeing of pilgrims as soon as complaints are made.
“NAHCON would not hesitate in taking necessary action where there is an obvious infraction on the welfare of its pilgrims. The Commission would ascertain such claims and stipulate the right penalties for the defaulters as agreed in the contract award terms,” the statement added.
The statement also quoted NAHCON’s chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, as commending Nigerian pilgrims for their resilience and cooperation during airlift schedules without which the operation would not have been smooth.
He similarly commended the States Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions for their promptness in responding to departure arrangements which so far has been orderly with minimal delays.
“The Chairman assures that Nigerian intending pilgrims’ satisfaction is paramount to the Commission at all times. He called on them again to remain in a state of readiness for their turn to be airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the statement concluded.
PRNIGERIA can report that with Aero Contractors flight NIG9027 which departed Yola to Madinah at 16:02hrs on Tuesday with 474 Adamawa pilgrims (311 Males, 163 Females), the total number of Nigerian flights that have reached the Holy Land is 72 while a total number of 30, 381 pilgrims have so far been airlifted.
