The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikirullah Hassan has called for collaboration with Islamic Scholars (Ulamas) to ensure successful Hajj operations in Nigeria.
The Chairman stated this in Abuja, while hosting Islamic Scholars, Ulama from all parts of Nigeria as he explained that the 2021 hajj is still a hope and that the commission still want the Islamic scholars to sensitise pilgrims on the importance and safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Alhaji Hassan expressed gratitude to the Scholars for the positive roles they played in advisory capacity as well as educating and mobilising Muslim umma on the importance of confronting disinformation and unsubstantiated rumor about the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Continuously support
The Chairman said the commission was seeking the advice of the Scholars as veterans on Hajj matters and requesting them to continuously support NAHCON on its vision and activities.
” I therefore, humbly appeal to you as a body of Ulama to continue to be in the forefront of the spiritual fight against this pandemic for a divine intervention. This work will become increasingly important as we confront disinformation and unsubstantiated rumor about the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine. It is imperative for our brothers and sisters to adhere strictly to the Federal Government protocols to curve the spread of the pandemic.
I thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity and look forward to a fruitful and continued engagement that will deepen our cordial relationship and collaboration to provide efficient and effective services to the pilgrims…”
Improve management of Hajj
The Chairman used the occasion to explain how the commission was working to improve the management of Hajj.
“I am pleased to inform you that within the One year of our inauguration as the 4th Board on 13th February, 2020 we have been working tirelessly to improve the management of Hajj. The Board made a solemn pledge to make Hajj fare affordable to enable more Nigerians, especially the indigent citizens to fulfill their dreams of performing Hajj. To achieve this objective, the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) was launched in Kano on 4th October, 2020. The Scheme was designed for all Nigerian pilgrims irrespective of their financial status to save gradually for the fulfillment of the 5th Pillar of Islam and at the same time provide opportunity for financial inclusion through investment.
“The Commission has also embarked on Digital Transformation of its activities to reduce the cost of doing business and to boost our competence in the increasing digitalization of Hajj process being rolled out annually by Saudi authorities. In this regard, the automation of our finance Department has reached advance stage.
Meanwhile, the Commission is making concerted effort to enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to make some of our Hajj camps and landed assets economically functional all-year round to improve our Internally Generated Revenue” He said.
In their responses, the scholars took turns to commend NAHCON for the novel initiatives in promoting Hajj operations through the Hajj Saving Scheme and stressed the need for more pilgrims enlightenment on hajj activities.
The National Vice President of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Hajiya Rofiyat sani called on the Commission to concentrate more on educating the female pilgrims and take the issue of COVID-19 vaccination seriously,
“The commission should look into orientation and education of pilgrims so that they will not misbehave when they go for Hajj, the issue of knowledge is very important in Islam whatever you want to do you most have the knowledge of it to be able to do it well and it is only when you do it well that you will be rewarded by Allah.
On the issue of Covid-19 vaccination it is very very important, the government has said that anyone who want to travel out of the country must have COVID Vaccine passport so it is now left for the person who want to go for hajj to earthier decide to take the vaccine or stay back at home.”
Pass accurate information
The Director Baynakum Foundation Ustaz Abdulfattah Adeyemi urged the Islamic Scholars to be well informed about the Covid-19 protocols to enable them pass accurate information to the others.
“We want the Ulama to be well informed about everything that surrounds the hajj and Covid-19 protocol, we want Nigeria to be example to the whole world concerning our compliance our orderliness vis-à-vis our spiritual excellent in performing a successful hajj.”
Over 50 members of Ulama that cutting across the 36 states of the federation from different Islamic organisations attended the meeting.
Lateefah Ibrahim
