NAHCON: Barrister Zikrullah Hassan Rolls Out His Agenda At Senate Screening

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By MIKAIL MUMUNI

Incoming Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barrister Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan on Wednesday listed the areas of priority his board will focus on when inaugurated.

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• Barrister ( Ustaz) Hassan*

Speaking during his screening by the Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa led Senate Committee of Foreign Affairs, Barrister Hassan said the areas his team would accord priority include the Hajj Saving Scheme, Hajj Training Institute as well taking a critical look at the number of days pilgrims spend in the holy land.

• Members of the screening committee (left)*

The screening of the incoming NAHCON Chairman and other board members which was originally scheduled to start by 11am was shifted forward and it commenced by 2pm to enable the Senate Committee members on Foreign Affairs join their others colleagues at plenary.

First to be screened was Barrister Hassan after which the other board members were called in for screening.

Addressing the Committee members, the NAHCON Chairman designate who was accompanied to the screening by the outgoing NAHCON Acting Chairman, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad said all the milestone achievements of his predecessor that have improved hajj operations would be sustained.

He said he can attest to the achievements of Barrister Mukhtar Muhammad as he ( Hassan) had worked closely with NAHCON for eight years as head of Osun State Pilgrims Board.

• L-R: Hassan, Muhammad*

Barrister Hassan said a major problem of Hajj for Nigerians is the issue of affordability due to annual increase in fares. His said his administration will ensure the speedy take off of the Hajj Saving Scheme to address this problem. Barrister Zikrullah said if Malaysia and Indonesia could solve the problem of affordability with the scheme, there was no reason why Nigeria could not do the same and even better.

The incoming NAHCON Chairman said Hajj operation has become a profession and should treated as such in Nigeria.  Towards that end, he said he would ensure the setting up of a Hajj Training Institute of international repute to train Nigerians and nationals of other countries on the rudiments of Hajj.

• Barrister Hassan ( 5th left) and other members of the incoming NAHCON Board*

On the number of days spent on hajj, he said a poor man has no reason to be in Saudi Arabia for forty of forty days for hajj rites that do not take more than five or six days. He said although Nigeria cannot unilaterally reduce the number of days that pilgrims would spend in the holy land, “ we must think outside the box” and find solution to the problem.

• Barrister Hassan with some members of The Companion and The Criterion Muslim associations*

He also said his board would take a critical look at the NAHCON Act with a view to enforcing to the letter, the aspects that are still in abeyance.

During the screening of the nominees, the Chairman of the screening committee said he and his team would work late into the night to ensure that their reports are ready for submission to the Senate on Thursday in order to ensure a speedy inauguration of the new board so that they can hit the ground running.

A member of the committee and immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun said the pedigree of Barrister Hassan in hajj operation was well known. He urged the incoming NAHCON Chairman and other members to see their nominations by President Muhammadu Buhari as a call to serve Nigeria and humanity.

Other nominees into the Commission are Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa from Bauchi State  as Executive Commissioner – Operation, Inspection and Licensing ,

Nura Hassan Yakasai from Kano State as Executive Commissioner – Policy, Personnel Management and Finance and Sheikh Momoh Suleman Imonikhe from Edo State as Executive Commissioner – Planning , Research, Statistics, Information and Library .

Those nominees to serve as part time members are Halimat Jibril from Niger State, Abba Jatto from Borno State , Garba Umar from Sokoto State and Ibrahim Ogbonnia Amah from Ebonyi State . Sadiq Musa from Delta State , Akintunde Basirat Olayinka from Ogun State, Shehu Dogo as representative of Ministry of Aviation and Nura Abba Rimi as representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Rabi Bello Isa as representative of Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning , Zainab Sherrif as representative of Ministry of Health , Aminu Bako Yarima as representative of Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS) and Ibrahim Ishaq Nuhu as representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN).

Others are Dr. Bala Muhammad as the representative of Jama’atul Nasril Islam and Yusuf Chinedozi Nwoha as representative of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs