National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Islamic Development Bank have agreed to deepen the economic cooperation between the two organisations.
Rising from a meeting held yesterday at the Jeddah headquarters of the Bank, NAHCON chairman Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan stressed the need for support and intervention of the bank in the areas of employment of Nigerians into the organisation, capacity-building and facilitating the full take off of Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN ) and supply of medical equipment to the Clinics.
“Nigeria as one of the Muslim populated countries, we require your support in poverty reduction efforts. Specifically, we want your intervention in the employment of Nigerians into the seasonal livestock slaughtering during the Hajj and distribution of Hajj meat to Nigerians.
“In the same way, we need your assistance in capacity building of our staff and supply of instructional and medical equipment for the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) and Clinic,” Hassan said.
Deputy coordinator general of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr Umar Adiya, in a press statement signed by Mousa Ubandawaki, assistant director, information and publications, NAHCON, said Nigeria has always been part of the bank’s partner and would be accorded a place of priority, adding that the Commission’s request falls within the bank’s ambit.
He however stated that the need to explore the sustainable future of the Hadaya project if the bank must serve the purpose of its establishment.
“If we must guarantee the future of the Hadaya project, then NAHCON must strive to support and encourage pilgrims to participate and key into the scheme to sustain it,” Adiya said.
While acknowledging the existence of ‘black market” as posing danger to the scheme, Adiya explained that the only way to win the fight is through education. “The black market activities have been detrimental to the scheme, I know, but while they cannot be eliminated totally, education is the tool to fight them, ” he stated.
