President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all relevant agencies concerned with Hajj operations to move swiftly to end corrupt practices.
NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Mohammed Mukhtar made this known after a meeting with the president in Abuja. “I met 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; and also he had 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 it headlong until we bring it to a standstill” he said.
Speaking with State House Correspondents furthet he said corruption – related issues were numerous.
“Well there are many, for instance, people pay for services, which are in some 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 of either umrah or Hajj, still play around and carry out the activities with impunity, so all these will be addressed.”
NAHCON) has also announced that 76000 Nigerian Muslims will participate in the 2015 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Also , the chairman said the president had approved the 2015 air carriers which will fly the 76,000 Nigerian pilgrims, and that the list of airlines would be sent to the states so that each state could select the air lines of their choice
According to him, the approved air lines include Max Air, Medview Airlines, Kabo Air, Planet Air, Skypower Express, Dornier Aviation, Top Brass and Hak Air.
“Mr. President also directed that we should comply with all regulations laid out by Saudi government to ensure the success of 2015 Hajj.”
He however refused to disclose the hajj fare as he simply said ,”We will let you know.”
