Jalal: Laying Groundwork For The Success Of 2024 Hajj Operations, By Mousa Ubandawaki
Jalal ArabiWhen Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi assumed office as the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigerian (NAHCON) on the 18″ of October, 2023, he made a solemn pledge to pursue the acronym mantra of T.S.A (Trust, Sacrifice and Allah sees everything) in the administration of Hajj.
He made it clear that he had not come to overturn everything achieved by the former Board of the Commission but to tinker with areas that needed improvement and build on the achievement in other aspects of the exercise.
Now, four months down the line, Malam Jalal Arabi – a tested bureaucrat who retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service has made some delve moves which has struck the heart of Hajj administration process, In fact by navigating uncharted territory where the fearless make history, he has demonstrated that with dedication, commitment, and support of Stakeholders, Hajj operation can be made a wonderful experience.
Let me take you on the highlight of the journey so far. The new era began with the de-briefing by the various operational committees to appraise the challenges and the overall performance and problems encountered during the 2023 Hajj and, to examine the strategic work plan on how to attain a sustainable development in the 2024 exercise.
It is a common knowledge that the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (M. O. U) usually mark the curtain raiser and the commencement of Hajj activities and preparation.
The steps taken so far in the first Pre- Hajj Visit have been quite inspiring with the bottom line being the strategy to beat down the cost of Hajj.
It is a famous saying that the longest journey begins with a single step, In this connection, the Commission’s helmsman began a high stakes meeting with the Service providers starting with the Muttawi-the company responsible for the provision of services in,Muna, Arafat and Muzdalifa (Mashair)
With light pleasantries, he sets a more upbeat tone for talks full of prickly topics, With fiexibility and adaptablity, he told them that if they indeed wanted to receive a large Contingent of pilgrims, they must bring down the cost of service.
According to him, “the adverse economic problem in the country has led to low turn-out of pilgrims and therefore the high cost will adversely affect you too. So we need to bring down the price, so that you can also provide service. We have to look deep in order to reduce the price. If we don’t make it easier for the pilgrims, we may not have the pilgrim. Therefore, whatever concession you can reduce for the sake of pilgrims, so that could be able to pay.”
Having achieved a deal with the Mutawiff, the Chairman shifted attention to the accommodation and catering providers for concession. After the staggered meeting with most of the accommodation providers which turned joyous as they also agreed to reduce the cost.
The NAHCON helmsman gave little away as he shifted attention and put into gear another negotiation meeting with the catering service providers. It is an axiom that “no matter how much one tried to reach or teach perfection, it is a distance goal that cannot be reached “. It is in light of the above, no agreement has yet been reached with the catering providers to bring down their charges, but there is a ray of hope in this direction too.
This year’s Hajj could propel the Nation forward to bigger and better things in the near future or it could be a bucket of cold water. We however hope for the former and that brighter days are ahead especially, with the heartwarming news from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) who had pledged to look into the request of the Commission to explore the Hajj as not only a spiritual experience but also it’s business end to guarantee the economic development where the Country can export its abundant human and economic resources to the Holy land.
While presenting his position during his visit to the IsDB headquarters in Jeddah, Malam Arabi had emphasized the need for the Islamic Bank to assist the Country through employment of high-grade professionals as well as importations of livestock from Nigeria as one of the biggest partners in the West African Sub-Region. Although, no deal was reached on this, however the delegation was able to extract a promissory notes from the Bank to continue to assist the commission in training sponsorship, capacity building of the staff engagement of Nigerian veterinary professionals in the seasonal activity of slaughtering of rams etc.
As we sprint towards the 2024 Hajj, there is a chance of a happy ending with the Commission already laying the ground work for the success of the exercise. It is therefore, imperative that for the attainment of any sustainable development, unity is important – meaning everyone must be irrevocably committed as an indivisible Hajj family.
“We must all come together to propagate a new and positive narrative that Nigeria is ready to harness her own resources to become a global player in the Hajj Industry.”
Ubandawaki is Deputy Director, Information and Publication, NAHCON, Abuja.
The book, titled: “A Scholar’s Journey: Navigating the Academia,” covers the former Minister’s academic life across four continents – Africa, Europe, Asia and North America – from January 2003 to January 2023.
Kogi Bubbles As Ododo Takes Over From Gov Yahaya Bello, By Omeiza Ajayi
Residents of Kogi state and well-wishers would tomorrow, Saturday, January 27, converge on the Muhammadu Buhari Square to witness the transition of power from Governor Yahaya Bello to the Governor-elect and his erstwhile Auditor General for Local Governments, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman “OAU.”
The atmosphere in the state is carnival-like. An attempt by this reporter to book an hotel in Lokoja, the state capital, two weeks before the D-Day was unsuccessful as every available hotel room in the ancient city had been booked ahead by people from all walks of life who want to be witnesses to history. Perhaps, an evidence of the popularity of the mandate freely given to Alhaji Ododo on November 11, 2023. Like bees to a nectar, so is the name, Ododo, which literally means flower in his native Ebira language.
Both the governor and the governor-elect have been reaching out to people, preaching the ‘One Kogi’ gospel even before and after the election. Only few days ago, Gov. Yahaya Bello received in his Abuja home, his immediate predecessor, Capt. Idris Wada who is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Wada commended Bello for his sterling performance in the last eight years and promised to also support the incoming administration of Ododo.
Thereafter, the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide also visited Gov. Bello in a move that upset conventional expectations and shocked political analysts who had thought that the outcome of the governorship election had created a gulf between the duo.
Curiously however, Hon. Abejide expressed his unalloyed commitment to the Kogi Project under Alhaji Ododo.
“Your Excellency, let me congratulate my brother, Ahmed Usman Ododo, the governor-elect of our dear state once again. We all ran a good race and we also believe that at the end of it, only one candidate will emerge and we have Ododo as that candidate today. My participation in politics is about the people and once elections are over, all issues around it must be put behind to forge a progressive administration.
“The interest of our people supercedes that of individuals. I will support Ahmed Usman Ododo to succeed in the interest of our people,” Abejide had told Governor Bello.
As Ododo takes over, a former coordinator of Kogi Peoples Movement, Aliyu Ismaila has however called on the Governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party SDP, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and that of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Senator Dino Melaye to bury the hatchet and join hands with the new administration in the interest of peace and development.
He said: “Those who seek to exercise political power must be able to discern when to keep fighting and when to stop. Now’s the time to stop and queue behind the incoming administration.
“Elections would always come and elections would always be won by an individual. Both Ajaka and Dino used to be in the same camp with Yahaya Bello. So what changed? Why the sudden animosity against the governor?”
Indeed, Dino was so close to Bello that eight years ago, during the inauguration of the Gov. Bello, the then Kogi West Senator, had told the audience that “Kogi people voted for Audu, but God voted for Yahaya Bello.”
While residents are upbeat about tomorrow’s event, Gov. Bello has himself been carrying a long the Governor-elect, meeting with relevant stakeholders and the business community.
At a time when some governors would wish they had more days in office, Bello seem eager to leave, having prepared a worthy successor to continue with the state’s 32-year development plan.
Apart from delegating some responsibilities like projects commissioning to the incoming governor, Bello on Wednesday in Lokoja, freely handed over his red pen to Ododo – a symbolic transfer of power, even days before his tenure would elapse.
The red pen is not often used in writing, yet it is perhaps the most powerful in our world. Some of the words associated with it are; “Approved”, “Treat”, “Deal” and “Proceed”.
It had in some cases precipitated conflicts between predecessors and their successors. However, in Kogi, Gov. Bello may have set an example for his peers by willingly relinquishing his red pen even days before the official handover. Unlike in some states where past officials have to be chased around to hand over some government property or documents in their possession, Gov. Bello had since concluded the handing over processes in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, and only retained few officials who he also directed to conclude their handing over processes on the eve of Ododo’s inauguration.