Streamlining hajj operation in Kaduna

On assuming office, Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i instituted some reforms in the state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare board geared towards professionalising the activities of the board; Part of the step taken is ensuring that only those who have the capacity to drive the wheel of hajj are retained in the system for maximum efficiency.
He collapsed the activities of both Christian’s and Muslim’s pilgrims boards under Bureau for Interfaith headed by Engr Namadi Musa Though not without its challenges, the newly created Bureau for Interfaith has able to streamline the activities of the two boards.
It has unify the operations of the two agencies thereby foster inter religious harmony in the state.
The appointments of Alh Sani Dalhatu Musa as the Director of Operations by Kaduna State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Boards fi tted into the hypothesis of “putting a rectangular peg in its hole’.
He is now saddled with the responsibilities of heading the operations department that will coordinate the local government’s pilgrim’s officer’s activities and supervising the entire Kaduna hajj operations both in Nigeria and in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ability is nothing without opportunity because; it is always pleasant to be urged to do something on the ground that one can do it well.
One of the major challenges confronting hajj exercise in Nigeria is the appointments of politicians of people whom most times have little no practical knowledge about the dynamic of field operation in hajj exercise.
Unlike other administrative structure, hajj activities are about field operations: Movement of pilgrims from their various home to hajj camps, screening and boarding of pilgrims, conveying pilgrims from Makkah to Mina, Muzdallifa, Arafat and returns, weighing and conveying of pilgrims luggage’s, guiding and assisting pilgrims to Holy mosques in Saudi Arabia, helping pilgrims to locate Nigeria Medical facilities distributions of Suit cases and other essentials to pilgrims.
This activities are outdoor that requires physical present of hajj officials who knows the nifty gritty of hajj exercise.
Between 2011 – 2014 or there about, Kaduna becomes a toast of pilgrims owing to their exceptional organisations skills of its leadership and proactive operational plans.
It was during these years that the current NAHCON Chairman, Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed was hounoured with Member Order Niger (MON) by late President Umar Musa Yaradua.
That is the highest warad ever won in the field of hajj operations in Nigeria.
Fortunately for him, Sani serves as one of the pilgrim’s officer within those glorious years of back to back success in hajj operations in Kaduna State.
The manifestation of hitch free hajj exercise can also be realized if state governors adopt the system of appointing experience people within hajj administrative cycle to head state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies.
Hajj activities transcend Nigeria that its success or otherwise will have a telling effect not only on Nigeria Muslim Ummah but that of entire country.
It is in the context of the above that I welcomed the appointment of Sani Dalhatu Musa as the Director of operations in Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards.
His profi les fi t into the operations cycle and I hope the aura of office will not infects his capacity as reflected in his credentials.
Before his appointments, Sani Dalhatu was the immediate Assistant Director of Operations and the Zonal Coordinator in charge of zone II. He has served as Pilgrims Officer of Kudan, Giwa, Chikun, Kaduna North, and Igabi local governments where he emerged as the best pilgrims’ officer in 1998, 2000, 2012, and 2013 and also bagged Award of Excellent in Saudi Arabia by Muassasa no. 2 in 2011 and 2012.
In 2011, he was given triple responsibilities as the Coordinator of Kaduna state hajj camp, Coordinator of airport activities during hajj and the head of turadudiyya committee.
In 2013, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero awarded him the Best civil servants meritorious award of Excellent.
Finally, while I acknowledged that he has the experience to handle his current position, I will also advice him to resist the temptation to toe the usual Nigeria ‘big men syndrome’ that had brought self destruction to many.
His appointment is a call to duty, an added responsibility that requires extra commitment, dedication, sincerity and placing of welfare and interests of pilgrims far above any other concern.