By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA, said that preparation has started ahead for the 2024 Hajj operation to ensure Muslim pilgrims enjoy a hitch free exercise.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Olusade Adesola, gave this hint, when he received the Report of the FCT Ministerial Team on 2023 (1444 A.H) Muslim Pilgrimage (HAJJ) Exercise from its Chairman, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, in his office.
Adesola said that early arrangements will go a long way in reducing some hitches experienced during the previous exercise.
Adesola also lauded the contributions of the Ministerial Team to the success of the 2023 spiritual exercise and the report turned in; saying it will serve as a guide for subsequent exercises.
He said, “On behalf of the FCT Management, I appreciate your selfless sacrifice during this Hajj operation. There were many situations that stretched our capacity, but your intervention helped us to successfully manage the situation.”
“When the arrangements were not synchronized last year, there were many challenges, but when we put your Team in place for support, we saw the success we achieved and interestingly, the pilgrims appreciated your efforts,” he noted.
The Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board returned with the last batch and briefed me on what transpired there and expressed support for the services that you rendered. ”
My greatest joy is that under me, you (Director, Human Resource Management) led this delegation, and you are obviously leaving good footprints for us.”
Adesola specifically thanked the Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mallam Abubakar Adamu Evuti, for his corporation and dynamism.
He disclosed that the FCT Administration will look into the report and the recommendations therein and forward a memo to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the issues that are under his purview that may be critically considered.
He further noted that for the success of next year’s Hajj operation, there is a need to consider an Air Carrier with the capacity to
for the FCT contingent.
Chairman of the Ministerial Team, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, recalled that the 5-Member Team was constituted to assist the Board carryout smooth 2023 hajj operation.
The Chairman said that upon the inauguration, it began work by reviewing the challenges the Board had, and the Permanent Secretary’s intervention with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) proved impactful.
The report contained the entire exercise, from onshore to offshore, including all activities, ranging from the intending pilgrims’ orientation to the last batch of airlift of the pilgrims back to Nigeria, Mohamed stated .
“The report encompasses activities surrounding “arrival in Medina, activities in Medina and the movement of pilgrims to Mecca. Also, our activities in Mecca, our activities in the holy place are all detailed in the report. They have been summarily written for your perusal,” the Chairman emphasized.
Muhammad also commended the Director, MPWB, Abubakar Evuti for a successful hajj exercise.
He called for the need to improve activities of the Board, in areas surrounding intervention with the National Hajj Commission, with a view to assisting in the operations of the Board, particularly in the areas of allocation to the FCT by the federal vote and processing of travelling documents.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the FCT Administration has also constituted a similar Ministerial Team for the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure hitch free Christian pilgrimage exercise to Israel.
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