Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, the former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has made an earnest plea for support for the current leadership of the agency under Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi.
Speaking at a gathering in Lagos on Sunday, organized by The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, he highlighted the significant rise in 2024 Hajj fares due to the devaluation of the Naira against foreign currencies.
Expressing empathy with the Muslim Ummah in the nation, he emphasized NAHCON’s relentless efforts to alleviate the challenges faced by prospective pilgrims and ensure the success of the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage. Alhaji Hassan urged, “The Muslim community has to support the new leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. In my opinion, they are doing their very best. Considering the high cost of Hajj, the truth is that the official rate of foreign exchange has gotten expensive. We all have to support them. I think they are already on the right path. May Almighty Allah make it easy.”
Alhaji Hassan served as the Chairman of the Commission from December 2019 to October 2023.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, who is the President of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President (South) of NSCIA, lauded Alhaji Hassan for his remarkable achievements during his tenure at NAHCON.
Reflecting on past events, Alhaji Oladejo recounted a meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where former President Muhammadu Buhari informed the leadership of MUSWEN about the zoning of the NAHCON Chairman position to the South West and requested their nomination. He mentioned that the decision to nominate Alhaji Hassan was unanimous among MUSWEN leaders, and he thanked the former NAHCON Chairman for living up to expectations.
In his welcome address, the National Amir of The Companion, Engr. Kamil Olalekan, hailed Alhaji Hassan as a distinguished ambassador of The Companion, where he served as a national officer before assuming the role of NAHCON Chairman. Engr. Olalekan commended Alhaji Hassan for his notable accomplishments at NAHCON, including the establishment of the Hajj Saving Scheme, the creation of the Hajj Institute for training hajj operators, ensuring NAHCON’s self-financing, widespread awareness campaigns about hajj, and promoting inclusivity and transparency in hajj management.
The event featured goodwill messages from notable figures such as former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu; pioneer Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Professor D.O.S. Noibi; Dr Muiz Banire; Alhaji Y.KO.Kareem; Professor Khalid Adekoya, among others, who all praised Alhaji Hassan for his exceptional qualities and contributions.
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