The Managing Director (MD)/CEO of Hajj Mabrur, Alhaji Abdul Hameed Solate, has expressed optimism that the new Saudi Arabian policy on Hajj 2024 would sanitise the hajj industry and reduce fraudulent activities perpetrated by unregistered private operators.
Solate charged intending pilgrims to patronise either the qualified licenced private operators or those in collaboration with them.
Recall that Kingdom’s Ministry of hajj had approved 40 qualified licenced private tour operators from Nigeria to conduct the forthcoming pilgrim to the holy land after going through rigorous screening conducted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The leading hajj and umrah agency boss welcomed the policy, saying it has reduced the proliferation of unregistered hajj operators.
He said: “Some two or three years ago, around this time, you would have seen different commercials on air, with different companies telling you to come and perform hajj with them, irrespective of their registered status or not. Due to the new policy, however, the trend is coming down.”
“This is because the information (about the 40 qualified registered companies) is out there. And I don’t think any media will be ready to run such a commercial knowing full well that the company isn’t registered for hajj 2024. This is showing that the industry is getting sanitised. So, my major advice for intending pilgrims is to open their eyes, look at what is there and choose from the list of registered companies.”
He also cautioned intending pilgrims to be wary of fraudsters, encouraging them to patronise only tour operators approved by NAHCON for hajj 2024.
“I am using this medium to tell intending pilgrims that the hajj commission has done a lot of things in preparation for hajj 2024 and they have pushed them out in the media for people to be aware. They have taken a lot of steps this year which eventually in the long run will sanitise our industry. It doesn’t give room to all comers.
“So, the intending pilgrims do not have any excuse to fall into the wrong hands because the hajj commission has released a list of companies that have been approved or that are qualified to go (for hajj 2024).
“None of them wants to disappoint. For them to have sailed through the hajj commission shortlist based on the criteria that the commission put in place, then it means they have a lot of reputation they want to live up to. You don’t want to disappoint yourself, neither do you want to disappoint the hajj commission and also you don’t want to disappoint the Saudi authorities. At the end of the day, you still want to do business.
“The pilgrims should open their eyes. They should check through the list of companies and they should take their cues from there. They should ensure their choices fall within those categories. By so doing, they will not fall into the hands of fraudsters, people who will dupe or take advantage of them,” he stressed.
Alhaji Solate charged the commission to commence arrangements for the 2024 hajj early for effective planning and coordination.
Acknowledging that the 2023 hajj was a tough one, he said that some of the arrangements were not detailed.
“There were challenges at the mushair. The tents we used at Minna were poor. The feeding also was poor. Things were upside down and I think these are the areas the Hajj Commission has to focus on. I am sure they would have done their review, and they would have seen where there were problems. The one that came from the Saudi authorities or any agency in Saudi that was complacent and the ones that came from their end, they would have seen.
“NAHCON needs to make all the necessary arrangements much earlier because our arrangements always come late. A lot of countries would have concluded their hajj arrangements while we are still struggling. You can’t just go and book hotels when you don’t know the number of people coming. But by the time they are coming, the hotel you want to book is already filled because you came late. You will be forced to take them to another hotel which will not be of the same standard as what you promised your pilgrims.
“However, if they had come earlier, they would have given the number of those that are coming. They would have pushed the amount of money they need to push to you. You can make the arrangements as necessary. So, I think that is the area NAHCON needs to work on and that is what they are currently doing, so that once money comes, all the necessary arrangements, signing of documents and whatever would have been done much earlier to make it easy.
“It’s easier to start telling Saudi authorities what you want once you have done your part. If you have not done your obligation, it will be very difficult for you to claim some rights. I think the step they are taking now will allow them to be in a position to carry out their obligations as early as possible. So the Saudi end will not have any excuses because the necessary things have come to them, and we will not have any excuses not to deliver, like what happened in hajj 2023 concerning the issue of feeding and tent,” he added.
