Shettima tasks NAHCON board on enhanced Hajj savings scheme

Vice President Kashim Shettima has tasked the newly inaugurated board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) with an enhanced Hajj savings scheme.

Shettima noted that improving on the scheme will boost the number of pilgrims participating in the Hajj exercise across the country. 

He said: “There are States that have become success stories in the Hajj Savings Scheme, and there is a need for greater advocacy so that this scheme can be replicated across the country.”

The vice president who was speaking on Wednesday during the inauguration of the board said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deliberately selected them to usher in new ideas in the Hajj operations.

While stressing the importance of the Hajj exercise in Islam, Shettima said the service of the board members was more of a religious service than an administrative one, stating that Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.

“For you, beyond your appointment, it is a win-win situation because if you serve the pilgrims well, almighty Allah will compensate you hereafter. So, it is more of a religious duty than an administrative function.

“The President deliberately picked people with diverse backgrounds and untainted by the past so that they can bring fresh perspectives and innovations to Hajj operations in Nigeria and also interrogate the management structure of the organisation and bring out the best from the staff."

As contained in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, his media aide, the Vice President noted that the board members will encounter challenges, hence the need to be united and prepared to offer solutions. 

He said: “As usual, you will encounter a lot of challenges but I will urge you to fuse into a single force and achieve our desired result. I will urge you to wear your thinking caps and come up with robust solutions that will satisfy Nigerian pilgrims.

“It is a very tough assignment; this is the nature of pilgrimage. But I want you to have it at the back of your minds that you are rendering service to God and humanity."

On his part, Malam Jalal Arabi, the newly inaugurated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the board appreciated President Tinubu for finding them worthy of the national assignment through the NAHCON.

He assured of working as a team to deliver on the task ahead to improve Hajj operations so that Nigerians will get the value of their money.

The statement by Nkwocha partly reads: "The newly constituted board comprises Aliu Abdulrazaq (Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, & Finance), Prince Anofi Elegushi (Commissioner, Operations), and Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal (Commissioner, Planning & Research).

"The zonal and stakeholder representatives include Dr Muhammad Umaru Ndagi — North Central; Abba Jato Kala — North East; Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman — North West; Tajudeen Oladejo Abefe — South West; Aishat Obi Ahmed — South East; Zainab Musa — South-South; Professor Musa Inuwa Fodio — Jama’atul Nasril Islam, and Professor Adedimizi Mahfouz Adebola — Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs."