By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.
Independent Hajj Reporters, (IHR), a civil society organization that monitors and advocates workable Hajj policies has thrown its weight in support of the coming together of Saudi based accommodation and feeding providers under one umbrella.
The service providers recently decided to form a group and work together to ensure prompt and efficient service is rendered to pilgrims during Hajj.
The formation of the group according to IHR, is timely considering the challenges of insufficient tents and feeding experienced by pilgrims in Mina during the 2023 Hajj.
IHR in a statement Tuesday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed, said it particularly commends the group for adopting a merit-based approach by selecting the Chairman/CEO of Shuraka’a Alkhair Group, Musa Hamid Jibril as it’s leader.
“With record successes of serving Nigerian pilgrims for decades during Hajj and with the associated supports he has rendered to many of his clients, we believe Alh. Musa Hamid has the capacity and experience to lead the group in serving Nigerian pilgrims effectively and efficiently,” IHR said.
The CSO added that having been providing series of Hajj services to the Guests of Al Rahman from Nigeria and many African Countries, “it is our belief that Musa Hamid will deploy his vast expertise in leading other companies within the group to provide commensurate services to our dear pilgrims and ensure that they provides a conducive and memorable environment to our pilgrims in the Holy Land”.
IHR also said the formation of the group will make it easier for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to coordinate and supervise services rendered to Nigerian pilgrims during Hajj operations.
“Interacting and interfacing with multiple service providers at the same time creates human resources and logistics challenges to NAHCON especially during off shore operations.
“About 15 to 20 different Hajj service providers are serving 36 states from the same country and NAHCON is obligated to meet with all of them thus creating serious challenges in oversight and supervisory issues.
“With this group in place, NAHCON only needs to interface with the leadership and communicate effectively”. IHR said monitoring Hajj service providers requires close contacts with pilgrims to extract feedbacks and draw attention of service providers whenever there is shortage or shortfall in the standards agreed upon in the contractual agreements.
It also said such process should be conducted in a seamless manner using an on-the-spot problem solving approach. “That is why NAHCON creates different committees to coordinate and manage different services like Feeding, accommodation, Airlifts, movement of pilgrims to and from Masha’ir, health services, inspectorate evaluation and compliance and other administrative duties.
“Just like AHUON, NAHCON can now communicate to the Saudi based service providers via their leadership especially in the areas of quality of services” IHR said.
