Independent Hajj Reporters, a Civil Society Organisation, on Tuesday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his re-election and urged him to consolidate on hajj operation reforms he initiated.
The Group National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, in a statement, acknowledged the achievements recorded in hajj administration under President Buhari.
These included Nigeria being rated as one of the best countries in terms of hajj organisation by the Saudi Ministry of Umra and Hajj.
He urged the president to sustain the non-sponsorship of people to Hajj that cost previous administrations N1.6 billion taxpayers’ money annually, discontinue the concession of the dollar to pilgrims that allowed pilgrims to access dollar at the prevailing market exchange rate.
The group wanted Buhari to sustain holding hajj service providers accountable whenever there was a failure of service, cancellation of VIP treatment to certain categories of hajj officials.
Others are the appointment of Jaiz Bank to collect Hadaya on behalf of Nigerian pilgrims, weeding of makeshift private tour operators and providers of five-star hotels for Nigerian pilgrims in Madina among others.
Mr Ibrahim said that the continuation of the above-named hajj policies would consolidate the gains and project the image of Nigeria as a country with financial discipline.
He said that Hajj was an exercise that required massive logistical challenges and therefore, required a gradual and consolidating mode of improving its operations and deliverance of service.
The national coordinator appealed to Buhari to retain the national medical team and national media team to preserve national unity among hajj officials and pilgrims.
NAN
