Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Mukhtar is the chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCO). In this edition, our correspondent MUSA MOHAMMED, presents an abridged version of the interactive session the NAHCO boss had with some State House correspondents
On meeting with Mr. President
I met with Mr. President and I’m pleased to tell Nigerians that he has granted all the requests from the National Hajj Commission with regards to the preparations for 2015 Hajj operations. The president also directed for inter-agency collaboration between the commission and all other relevant agencies to address the challenges and menace of corrupt-related practices that have to do with Hajj and Umrah and thus we will face head on until we bring it to a standstill.
The President has also approved the 2015 air carriers that are going to airlift pilgrims. The list will be sent down to the states accordingly for them to select the airlines of their choice. They include Max Air, Medview Airlines, Kabo Air, Planet Air, Skypower Express, Dornier Aviation, Top Brass and Hak Air. So with this meeting, it clearly shows that the preparations for 2015 hajj has reached its climax. And also Mr. President directed that we should comply with all regulations laid out by the Saudi Arabia government to ensure the success of 2015 Hajj.
On the corrupt-related issues
Well there are many, for instance, people pay for services, which are in sone cases not rendered. In some cases even they don’t have the chance to perform the hajj or umrah at all, their money is gone, and illegal operators that are not licensed to carry out the activities if either umrah or hajj, still play around and carry out the activities with impunity, so all these will be addressed with impunity.
On the budget
The budget for this year’s hajj as you know, the federal government normally takes responsibility for providing medicals, security services as well as consular services of the Nigerian pilgrims and that is exactly what the government will do this year.
On 2015 hajj fare
Mr. President has directed that we should release the fare immediately and we will do that without further delay.
On the number of pilgrims for 2015
The number of pilgrims for this year remains 66,000 under the states and 10,000 under the private tour operations.
On the need for independence of NAHCO
We are working towards that, and of course, you know it something that will require a time lag for the commission to comply with the directive and we have all put on our thinking cap to work towards compliance and I’m sure at appropriate time we will address the press on that too.
