In continuation with preparation for this year’s hajj pilgrimage, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Malam Jalal Arabi has signed an agreement with Ithraa Al Khair Company in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
This agreement contains details of service delivery expected from the group and the cost of each service along with penalties in case of violation by any party.
The signing of this agreement followed a careful survey of packages offered by other Ithraa Mutawwif companies that met with the NAHCON team and others during the just concluded Hajj and Umrah exhibition.
According to the statement, signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs Hajiya Fatima Usara, during the signing of the agreement alongside the Chairman of the Ithraa Mutawwif Company, Mr Ahmad Sindhi, the NAHCON chairman Malam Arabi cautioned officials of the company to discharge their responsibilities to the pilgrims with all sincerity as contained in the pact.
He emphasised that NAHCON will be involved fully in monitoring service provision from the implementation of the agreement to the end of execution.
The NAHCON helmsman expressed that this is the time to start the relationship afresh between NAHCON and the Mutawwif Company, on fresh terms built on trust. He called on Mr Sindhi to make sure the errors that happened in the past did not happen again.
In response, Mr Sindhi promised to continue with an open line of communication to fix any problem immediately before it escalated. He assured of the company’s readiness for teamwork with the singular objective of serving pilgrims well. In addition, Mr. Sindhi explained that working with NAHCON over the years has made them smarter and better which puts them in a position to always improve.
Tawafa establishments are a key part of the modern Hajj operations. Beginning from time immemorial, the Mutawwif job used to be a hereditary responsibility to pilgrims at a time when pilgrims used to stay in Makkah for months before the commencement of Hajj proper. Particular Makkan families were known for this role generation after generation. Back then, the Mutawwif hosts would manage their pilgrims’ affairs from the time of arrival until departure.
The families would keep the pilgrims in their homes, cook for them, wash their clothes, celebrate them among family and friends and make them part of their special occasions. Each Mutawwif was assigned certain number of pilgrims based on ability from a 100 to thousands where there is capability.
When it was time for Hajj rituals, the Mutawwifs would take their pilgrims to the holy sites to perform their rites. Their job was purely service to pilgrims free of charge.
King Abdullaziz standardized the system into Mutawwif Establishments which provide good quality services to pilgrims. These establishments were later appointed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to guide and serve pilgrims.
Mutawwifs have now been commercialised into companies with the task of pilgrims’ hospitality. They are charged with overseeing and organising local transportation, securing pilgrims camps in masha’ir, providing technological and manual security, catering services, sanitation etc. Mutawwifs are required to have full knowledge of the roads of Makkah and the holy sites as well as the Hajj rituals.
In another development, countries with large numbers of pilgrims have been mandated to sign the Tafweej (group movement) Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU provides a framework that each country must align itself with on Saudi Arabia’s system of moving pilgrims in groups, especially during the five Hajj days. The Secretary to the Commission Dr Rabi’u Abdullahi Kontagora signed the Mou on behalf of the Commission.
It would be recalled that the NAHCON Chairman, Malam Ahmad Arabi had earlier advised private Hajj managers present in the Kingdom to utilise the opportunity offered by the recently concluded Hajj and Umrah Exhibition to identify alternative service providers. This organised survey promoted the full participation of the Nigerian Hajj industry in the exhibition. Malam Arabi’s strategic management prowess was hence bagged for the Nigeria award during the closing ceremony of the exhibition.
Dominica Nwabufo
