THE National Association of Retired Hajj Administrators of Nigeria (NARHAN) has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of 2024 hajj operation despite the challenges that attended the preparations.
NARHAN, whose membership is made up of former executive secretaries of states’ Muslim pilgrims welfare boards and veterans of hajj operations at the national level, stated this after the association’s 2024 hajj review meeting.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Bukar Kime Dapsa, who is the immediate past chairman of the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission; the secretary, Bako Apapa, a former Executive Secretary of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board; and the Technical/Media Adviser, Ibrahim Muhammed, NARHAN highlighted areas of success in this year’s hajj as well as critical areas that need improvement for the future.
“We applaud NAHCON, airlines and relevant stakeholders for successfully conducting 2024 hajj airlift operations with minimal challenges. This has shown that the Nigerian hajj industry is moving progressively.
“We are also aware of the difficulties in health services due to the record heat wave experienced by 2024 hajj pilgrims, especially in Masha’ir areas.
“The medical team did a great service to Nigerian pilgrims in this year’s hajj, and we pray that Almighty Allah rewards everyone involved,” the association said.
The group also acknowledged the improvement in feeding and the relative increase in Tent ‘D’ spaces in Mina this year.
“We, however, call for a more proactive approach towards a better mapping of the pilgrims performing hajj and how to effectively cater for them, especially when pilgrims pay for all services during hajj.
“We also call for more transparency on the issue of financial interventions during hajj operations and for the commission to close the gap that creates room for uncertainty that made it possible for states to pay different sums of BTA to their pilgrims this year,” NARHAN stated.
The retired hajj administrators promised to monitor the 2025 hajj preparations within the scope of states pilgrims welfare boards and contribute their experience and expertise in educating Nigerian pilgrims and hajj administrators on how to avoid operational conflicts during hajj.
“As part of our mission, NARHAN will soon organise a hajj press conference to highlight critical areas that need a quick response from the apex hajj regulatory body to ensure a more transparent approach towards the 2025 hajj exercise,” the association said.
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