When NAHCON was established through an act of parliament in 2006 and its first Board inaugurated in 2007, the landscape of Hajj in Nigeria has changed for the better. The coming of the current administration in the country in May 2015, which coincided with the inauguration of the third Board of the Commission under the Chairmanship of Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, consolidated on achievements made by the pioneer Board of NAHCON under Mal Muhammad Musa Bello.
The new leadership of NAHCON was able to:
1.0 Introduction and Gazetting of Hajj and Umrah Regulations
The Commission on 14thDecember, 2015 issued rules and regulations to guide the operation of Hajj and Umrah by all entities. The rules, which have been gazetted, provide a framework for Hajj and Umrah Operations by all entities. Before now Nigeria did not have a common standard for pilgrims registration and provision of basic services such as airlift, accommodation, catering and medical services. The introduction and gazetting of rules and regulations guiding these activities have provided a bench-mark against which the services can be assessed and improved.
2.0 Licensing of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies
The Commission introduced for the first time, licensing of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions in line with the provisions of NAHCON(Establishment) Act and its rules and regulations. Apart from providing a services delivery framework, the policy
3.0 Improvement in the Quality/Capacity of Service Providers
NAHCON’s regulations on the involvement of various service providers in Hajj and Umrah activities in Nigeria has raised the standards Tour Operators, accommodation and catering service providers from briefcase companies, to full-fledged companies with permanent an verifiable addresses, bank accounts, adequate share capital and qualified staff to carry out their activities.
4.0 Introduction of National Medical Team
Nigeria used to go Hajj with a medical team for each state as well as a Federal medical team. The combined manpower prior to 2015 used to be over 2000 personnel that include, Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and Environmental Health workers to serve 95,000 pilgrims. This duplication of efforts and wastage was curtailed from 2016 when a single National Medical Team to serve all States was formed. The entire team was less than 500 and it served all Nigerians.
5.0 Increase in Efficiency of Airlift and
Related Activities
5.1 Conclusion of all phases of Airlift ahead of schedule
Before the establishment of the Commission, it was a norm for Nigeria to be unable to airlift its pilgrims. In 2005 for example, over 10,000 pilgrims missed the Hajj exercise due to inability of Nigeria to airlift them to the Holy Land. In 2015 and 2016 However, the airlifts were concluded 2 and 5 days ahead of schedule respectively.
5.2 Reduction in time spent by pilgrims at Camps during Saudi-bound airlifts.
Before now, pilgrims usually spent many days at Hajj camps across Nigeria awaiting airlift to Saudi Arabia. Now, better coordination with the assistance of a newly established Command and Control centre, makes airlift more efficient. Pilgrims hardly spend 24 hours in camps without being airlifted to Saudi Arabia.
5.3 Direct Landing and arrival into Madina before Arafat.
The efficiency of pilgrims’ airlift and arrivals into Madina saw a marked improvement. The table below shows a comparison:
ACTIVITY 2014 2015 2016
Arrivals into Madina by Air
57% 64% 67%
Visiting Madina before Arafat
89% 92% 100%
5.4 Reduction in time spent by pilgrims at Jeddah airport during Nigeria-bound airlift from days to hours.
Pilgrims used to spend days in Jeddah airport during the return journey to Nigeria. The Commission initially introduced lodging them in hotels and charging the airline or State that caused their delay. However, in 2016 pilgrims only spent hours before departing for Nigeria.
5.5 Conveyance of all pilgrims’ luggage together with or ahead of their owners.
Pilgrims normally spend days and sometimes, weeks awaiting the arrival of their luggage at various Hajj camps. This practice has stopped and pilgrims now collect their luggage on arrival at Nigerian airports because the luggage arrive with them or ahead of them.
5.6 Taking Over the Responsibility of Delivering Zamzam water to Nigeria for all pilgrims.
Zamzam water is the most valuable item pilgrims bring back to Nigeria. However, the carriage of Zamzam water by pilgrims on their return flights constituted a bottleneck to smooth return airlift. Many pilgrims could not get their Zamzam water on return Below. To address this, NAHCON took over the purchase, collection and delivery of Zamzam waterduring phase I of Hajj airlift. Below is a brief comparison of Zamzam delivery to Nigeria since 2014.
ACTIVITY 2014 2015 2016
Delivery of Zamzam water
0% 82% 100%
5.7 Increase in the Efficiency of Airport screening.
It used to take between 6 and 8 hours to screen a 500-load flight of Nigerian pilgrims at Jeddah airport. With the introduction of Pre-airport screening, the same flights are screened in 2 hours or less.
6.0 Improvement in quality of Pilgrims’ Accommodation in Saudi Arabia.
5.1 Before 2015, Nigerian pilgrims were usually accommodated in furnished apartments mostly about 20 – 30 minutes’ walk from the Haram in Madina.
Now, pilgrims are all accommodated in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels that are in the high-brow Markaziyya area of Madina which is between 1 – 5 minutes walk from the Haram. Below is a comparison of the grade of buildings used:
ACTIVITY 2014 2015 2016
No of Buildings in Madina
49 48 27
Grade A 15 7 25
Grade B 16 24 2
Grade C 18 17 0
5.2 Reduction of Rates for Pilgrims Accommodation in Madina
Another milestone recorded by the Commission is the reduction of Madinah accommodation rates from SR2,313 per pilgrim in 2016 to SR1,690 in 2017 thereby saving pilgrims and the Nigerian Government a total 12.3 million Dollars in foreign exchange. This was achieved through direct negotiations with Landlords/Owners of the properties instead of agents
5.3 Reduction of Rates for Pilgrims Accommodation in Makkah
In Makkah, Pilgrims used to be accommodated in 108 small and medium houses mostly of grade B and C standard between 10 and 30 mins walk away from the Haram. Now, they are accommodated in 88 larger buildings mostly of A and B standards.
ACTIVITY 2014 2015 2016
No of Buildings in Makkah
108 99 88
Grade A 32 53 41
Grade B 41 34 40
Grade C 35 12 7
As was the case in Madina, accommodation rates were crashed by the Commission when it eliminated agents and obtained houses from landlords or owners of properties in Makkah which resulted into a total savings of 13.6 billion Naira.
5.4 Abolishing financial augmentation by State Governments
The Commission similarly abolished augmentation on accommodation rates by state governments when it negotiated best rates for pilgrims with Landlords.
Pictorial Comparison of Pilgrims’ Accommodation in Makkah
D PILGRIMS WELFARE IN MASHA’IR
6.0 Improvement of Pilgrims’ Welfare in Masha’ir
The standard of pilgrims’ accommodation in Mina and Arafat has been upgraded to one that is at par with other top ranked countries. Our pilgrims now have matrasses and blankets it Muna, Desert coolers in Arafat and improved sanitation in both places which was not the case before.
7.0 Re-dedication to pilgrims’ oriented Hajj
7.1 Relocation of Head Office from Jeddah to Makkah
The Commission ’s operational Headquarters was situated in Jeddah. However, the need to be closer to pilgrims made the Commission to relocate its Hajj operational headquarters to Makkah to be closer to pilgrims.
7.2 Movement of NAHCON Management and Staff from Tent A to Tent C.
Similarly, Nigerian officials usually stay in ‘A’ area of Minna which is about three kilometers away from where pilgrims are situated. The Commission decided to move to where Nigerian pilgrims are to supervise and enjoy the same standard of services with them. This has assisted in proper supervision of the services rendered to pilgrims during the period of main Hajj activities.
8.0 Reduction of Cost for Administering Hajj
8.1 Reduction of Hajj officials
The Federal Government was known for sponsoring many officials to assist pilgrims. This practice of recruiting officials was pruned to essential medical and security personnel as well as institutional representatives.
8.2 Reduction of dependence on Government for Financing.
The Commission, through prudent management of resources as well as abolishing of Amirul Hajj Delegation, was able to reduce dependence on Government for funding of its off-shore operations. The table below shows the percentage of Government funding of offshore operations in the last three years:
ACTIVITY 2014 2015 2016
FG financing of Offshore Budget
69% 68% 28%
8.3 Immediate Refunds to Pilgrims for Un-rendered or Poorly Rendered.
The Commission in March 2016, refunded the sum of 1.75 Billion Naira to Pilgrims Boards of the 36 States of the Country and the FCT for onward refund to pilgrims. This refund was as a result of services not rendered or poorly rendered during the 2015 Hajj exercise. It was a demonstration of commitment to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims got value for money
9.0 Opening of Collaboration with Hajj Missions from other countries
The collaboration between NAHCON and the Pakistani Hajj Mission has resulted in a bilateral arrangement in which NAHCON will enjoy the development and deployment of Hajj Management System free of charge which would have cost the Commission about $500,000 to obtain.
10.0 Expansion of Public Enlightenment and Engagement.
10.1 Introduction of Radio and Television Enlightenment.
The programme, tagged. Hajj: As You Answer the Call is always aired on NTA Network Television on weekly basis with the aim of enlightening pilgrims as well as showcasing activities of the Commission. The same programme is being conducted through the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) network.
10.2 Public Engagement over Social Media
The Commission also established various public engagement mechanisms through use of Social Media to inform, enlighten, engage and receive feedback from the public about its activities. The Commission’s account on Facebook; Twitter and Instagram handles @nigeriahajjcom took off from 2016 to complement print and broadcast media coverage of the Commission’s activities.
