Barring any unpredictable glitch, NAHCON will commence the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to this year hajj on 30th of July. Th e airlift is expected to last for 28- 30 days. Four hajj carriers has been screened and selected to airlift this year pilgrims: Medview Airline, Max airlines, Azman airlines and Saudi Arabia designated airline, Flynas. Th e fi rst fl ight is programmed to depart for Madina from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja with FCT pilgrims. Th is year, Nigeria received 95, 000 hajj seat allocation as against 76, 000 allocated to the country last year. Out of this fi gure, NAHCON distributed 75, 000 to states pilgrims boards while 20, 000 were allocated to Tour Operators. So far, over 73, 000 pilgrims have been registered under Government and Tour operators’ quotas. An advance team made up of NAHCON senior offi cials has been dispatched to Madina. Th ey are to serve as national reception team that will receive Nigeria pilgrims.
Th e journey to spiritual purifi cation has begun and it is time to evaluate the services paid for by Nigeria pilgrims and plans to actualize such by hajj authorities. Will hajj authorities give pilgrims what they deserve? Will hajj services providers abide by their contractual agreement? Will this year hajj be a consolidation of noticeable achievements of last year or will it roll back the previous success?
Th is can only be achieved by seeing hajj services through the lens of pilgrims. On the part pilgrims, basic services that determine hajj success are: Airlifts, accommodations, health services, transportation within the Holy Sites and accessibility to information with a timely feedback mechanism. Th ere are basic services paid for by pilgrims. Th is year for example, pilgrims who paid through states Muslims Pilgrims boards are entitled the following: Airlift to and From Saudi Arabia, Accommodation in Makkah and Madina, Feeding in Makkah and Madina (2 times daily) and feeding at airport. Other s are Transpiration to Makkah, Madina, Mina, Arafat and back, uniform, suitcases and Basic Traveling allowance ($800).
For example, over 9, 700 pilgrims missed the Hajj exercise due to inability of Nigeria to airlift them to the Holy land in 2005. By then, it becomes a recurrent embarrassment for a nation that that prides itself giant of Africa. We have to apply for extension of date of closure of King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah to enable completion of pilgrims airlift. However, there seems to be gradual improvement in pilgrims airlift in recent years. In 2015 and 2016, the airlifts were concluded 2 and 5 days ahead of schedule respectively.
If Air carriers abide with their contractual agreement, this year airlift of pilgrims may surpassed the previous year. Due to relative check and balances, on board air services have improved drastically. Introduction of direct fl ight to Madina has ease the hustle and stress of busing pilgrims in a 6 hour Journey from Jeddah to Madina. Th e policy of making refunds to Pilgrims for un-rendered or poorly rendered services presents an opportunity for pilgrims to get a commensurate service for his/her money.
For example in March 2016, hajj commission facilitates the refunds of the sum of 1.75 Billion Naira to Pilgrims Boards of the 36 States of the Country and the FCT. Th e money is meant for services not rendered or poorly rendered during the 2015 Hajj exercise. To me, this will be an added value services if the commission can maintain such policy. As a regulatory body, the commission needs to sharpen its two edge hammer of tight regulation and punishment for deviators.
Previously, hajj service providers operate without a standard benchmark that can be used to review hajj services. Th e introduction of inspectorate, evaluate and compliance units signifi cantly reduce unregulated hajj service delivery system. Nevertheless, hajj authorities should concentrate more on on-spot corrective measures, because pilgrims did not pay for hajj fare to be refunded back of their money. Th e Inspectorate and evaluation committee should be upgraded to detect and fi x. Received complains, process and instantly provide succor to pilgrims.
Th ey paid for effi cient service delivery to allow them fulfi lled their religious obligation in comfort. Direct landing of Nigeria pilgrims to Madina commenced in 2014. In that year, 57% of Nigeria pilgrims fl ew to Madina while 89% of Nigeria pilgrims visited Madina before Arafat. In 2015, 64% fl ights landed in Madina and 92% of our pilgrims visited the Holly Prophet Mosques before Arafat. In 2016, 67% of the fl ight alight their pilgrims in Madina and all Nigeria pilgrims were able to do their ziyara before heading to Makkah. However while the reception of pilgrims in at King Abdul Aziz international airport in Jeddah Airport was hailed by pilgrims, the same team in Madina lacks cohesion. Some pilgrims complain that the team usually arrived the airport late and sometimes could not attend to them as at when needed.
Th e two Holly Mosques in Madina and Makkah serves as pilgrim’s centre of activities. Infact, pilgrims prefers to live their staying in Saudi Arabia in the two holy mosques because hajj is about the Holly mosques, Arafat and Mina. Th e best components part of services delivery that can hinder pilgrims from carrying out his/her spiritual obligation is the accommodation. Average Nigeria pilgrim spends 35 days or more during hajj which means that they will housed in an accommodation.
To pilgrims, their accommodation can only be said to be good it answer the following questions: Be situated within one (1) kilometer radius from the Haram in both Makkah and Madina. Where the distance is beyond one (1) kilometer radius, shuttle bus to and from the Haram shall be provided on daily basis at a ratio of one25-seater bus to 150 pilgrims; the toilet ratio per pilgrim must not exceed six (6) pilgrims per toilet within the building; be situated in a suitable environment; have adequate kitchen, dining facilities and service areas within the building; have standard bedding facilities(clean bed sheets, pillows, blankets, the mattresses must be clean and the thickness shall not be less than 12cm; have a minimum bed space range of 80cm by180cm in-between beds; have functional and adequate fi re extinguishers in every fl oor (and room); have functional and adequate lifts (minimum of four lifts) facility within the building; have available staircases and emergency exits as required by the law; have functional and adequate air conditioners; have fi rst aid kits and adequate water dispensers; be accessible by bus and where applicable to Taraddudiyya route; and have curtains and room identifi cation with its dimensions in meters and record of occupants displayed.
At least, that is the offi cially approved guidelines for securing pilgrims accommodation. Nigeria pilgrims will enjoy his/her stay in Saudi Arabia if the above requirements are strictly adhered to. While NAHCON has laid down this regulation, there exists a challenge of compliance by the states pilgrim’s welfare boards. Nahcon as a regulatory body needs to sharpen its policy of monitoring and control for eff ective service to pilgrims. Most hajj services providers are like business enterprise with sole target of maximizing profi ts. Th ey need to be guarded, supervise, regulate, punish and extols as at when needed.
