*Photo: Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan*
Immediate past Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has solicited support for the current leadership of the agency under Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi.
*Photo L-R: Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, former NAHCON Chairman; Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo,
President of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President (South), Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA); Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Interior and Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu…on Sunday in Lagos at a reception in honour of Alhaji Hassan*
Speaking in Lagos on Sunday at a reception held in his honour by The Companion,( an association of Muslim men in business and the professions), he said the depreciation in the value of Naira against international currencies has led to an astronomical hike in the fares for the 2024 Hajj.
Calling on Muslim Ummah in the country to bear with NAHCON, he assured that the Commission was doing everything possible to ease the pains of prospective pilgrims and make the 2024 Hajj exercise a success.
According to him, “ The Muslim community has to support the new leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. In my opinion they are doing their very best. Considering the high cost of Hajj, the truth is that the official rate of foreign exchange has gotten expensive. We all have to support them. I think they are already on the right path. May Almighty Allah make it easy.”
Alhaji Hassan was the Chairman of the Commission between December 2019 and October 2023.
Chairman of the occasion,Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, who is
the President of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President (South), NSCIA, commended Alhaji Hassan for his achievements at NAHCON.
Going down the memory lane, Alhaji Oladejo recalled how former president Muhammadu Buhari called the leadership of MUSWEN to a meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja and told them that he had zoned the position of NAHCON Chairman to the South West and requested for nomination.
He recalled that the leadership of MUSWEN unanimously agreed on the choice of Alhaji Hassan and forwarded his name to the then president. He thanked the former NAHCON Chairman for not disappointing MUSWEN and Muslims in Nigeria generally.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the host and National Amir of The Companion, Engr. Kamil Olalekan described Alhaji Hassan as a worthy ambassador of The Companion which he was serving as a national officer before his appointment as NAHCON Chairman.
He added that Alhaji Hassan made many landmark achievements at NAHCON such as the take-off of Hajj Saving Scheme; establishment of the Hajj Institute for the training of hajj operators; making NACHON self-financing; creating increased awareness and sensitization on hajj by taking the message to the grassroots and for driving the policy of inclusivity and openness in hajj management.
There were goodwill messages by former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu; pioneer Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Professor D.O.S. Noibi; Dr Muiz Banire; Alhaji Y.KO.Kareem; Professor Khalid Adekoya and a host of others,all of who extolled the qualities of Alhaji Hassan.
