Era of pilgrims officials performing Hajj over — NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has declared that henceforth no official from State, Federal or Private Tour Operators would be allowed to perform the Hajj while conducting oversight functions.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.
NAN reports that the executive chairman and one other official of the commission did not perform the Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia during the 2016 Hajj operation so as to enhance pilgrims’ safety.
Muhammad said very soon, the commission would issue a policy statement on the issue, which would be binding on state, federal and private tour operators.
According to him, the statement will spell out what percentage of officials will be allowed to perform the Hajj.
Muhammad said: “That will be determined after consultation with all the necessary stakeholders in Hajj affairs.”
The NAHCON boss said even if the commission was not considering such policy, the Saudi authorities would in the near future introduce it.
He said: “I am certain that even if we don’t do it as a nation, time will come when the Saudi authorities will do it.
“If you are an official who is supposed to officiate in Hajj activity, they would not allow you to perform Hajj rites and they would put that restriction.”
Muhammad, therefore, said any official who wished to travel to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of just performing the Hajj should sponsor themselves.
He said: “The era of having all the Hajj officials 100 per cent from the state, federal and private tour operators going to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of performing Hajj has certainly come to an end.
“So, those who are going for the purpose of just performing the Hajj will pay from their own pocket.
“NAHCON will not allow officials to take advantage of officiating to perform the Hajj; the two cannot be combined.”
NAN.