The Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team (NHMST) has cautioned State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Private tour operators against actions capable of truncating the 2025 Hajj operations.
Besides, the NHMST, a group of media professionals monitoring and reporting Hajj exercise in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, equally vowed to ‘expose individual(s) and official saboteurs conniving to frustrate preparation for this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.’
In a signed statement by National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta, in Kaduna on Tuesday, NHMST expressed worry over attempts by some states and tour operators to obstruct arrangements for the seamless spiritual exercise being perfected by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The media professionals, passionate about ensuring Nigerian intending pilgrims get value for resources expended on the religious practices at the holy land vowed to resist any form of sabotage against the Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman’s led Commission.
NHMST, in particular, referenced the recent false alarm over the cancellation of contract of
a Saudi service provider allegedly by NAHCON, whereas the Saudi authorities were responsible for the act.
The Hajj monitoring group said those intending to constitute a clog in the wheel of seamless 2025 Hajj under any disguise should be prepared to meet their Waterloo.
NHMST’s strongly worded statement read in part : “NHMST is committed to reporting and monitoring general activities of Hajj and ensuring pilgrims from Nigeria get fair treatment.”
“Our attention, however, is drawn to unfolding developments regarding a purported cancelled contract with one of the Saudi-based service providers by NAHCON.”
” Those that orchestrated the heat successfully attracted the much attention they so desired. But unfortunately for them, it was a total failure because the narrative could not hit the target. They failed because it was not NAHCON that cancelled the supposed contract. The Saudi authorities effected the cancellation.
” Simply put, many right-thinking individuals would wonder what could have warranted some state boards to trigger the issue, such as generating unnecessary tension if they are clean about the contract. How does the cancellation of a contract in Saudi Arabia prevent intending pilgrims from going for Hajj?
” Although those perpetrating the evil act know well that NAHCON has the statutory responsibility to cancel any undertaken to ease the welfare of pilgrims during the spiritual exercise, they still went ahead to instigate a campaign of calumny against the Commission.
” Let it be known however that NHMST will not fold its arms and allow any element to cause embarrassment to the nation and
intending pilgrims.
” It is high time the saboteurs changed their strategy because Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman (Pakistan), a new Sheriff in Town, is presently in charge of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. He has promised to entrench transparency and accountability in the management of Hajj affairs in Nigeria and he is living up to the billing.
“While holding NAHCON by their words, NHMST will not allow any body or group to derail Hajj activities. It can’t be business as usual. ”