On Thursday, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) management held a meeting with members of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria (AHUON) to address issues of relevance to their operations according to an official statement released by Head of Public Affairs,NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara.
The report noted that, items such as the restructuring of zonal and outreach offices for convenience and necessity for them to liaise with the zonal and outreach offices in lodging complaints or seeking clarification was discussed.
Correspondingly, AHUON members were also briefed on the new desk offices to be opened in some airports. This is happening after seeking and getting approval from the airport authorities. The desk officers will be there to ensure the welfare of pilgrims to forestall being treated unfairly and to enforce any policy agreements between pilgrims and their service providers.
In addition, the desk officers will be at the airports as liaison officers to support tour operators and solve minor problems where manageable. It was also resolved that the Commission will liaise with the Primary Health Care Agency to reserve COVID-19 vaccines for tour operators’ pilgrims.
Others are new data collation system for Umrah pilgrims, review of guarantor charges to one million Naira instead of 5000 dollars as a penalty for visa violations, withholding of caution deposit and other guidelines.
Present at the meeting were the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, Commissioner Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance ; Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, Board member representing Ministry of Health, Pharm. Zainab Ujudud Sheriff and other NAHCON members. Others are the AHUON president Alhaji Yahaya Nasidi Suleiman, AHUON EXCO members, representatives of Licensed Tour Operators, management and other staff of NAHCON, the report noted.
