|
Hajj: Funds for
service providers availabe– Bello
PRESIDENTIAL Committee on Hajj 2006/2007 yesterday allayed fears over
unavailability of adequate funds to pay service providers for this year’s
hajj, even as it warned that all those contracted to provide services for
the exercise will henceforth be held accountable.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello said funds for all
service providers are available with the committee and there will be no
delay in meeting payments schedule based on conditions contained in existing
agreements and provisions of the new Hajj Act.
Addressing the preparatory meeting of the committee with chairmen and
secretaries of state Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies in Abuja, Alhaji Bello
said the days of buck-passing are over as everyone must be answerable in
offering real value for money paid.
“The airlines and indeed all those contracted to provide services for our
pilgrims would be held accountable so that they provide real value for
money. Consequently, funds will only be released to service providers based
strictly on conditions contained in agreements”, he said.
Alhaji Bello stated that to forestall any gap in the flow of activities for
a successful and hitch-free hajj, the committee is conducting a
comprehensive but quick appraisal of all agreements and other matters
inherited from the defunct Expert Working Group and the Directorate of
Pilgrims Affairs (DPA).
The committee chairman said the new all-inclusive arrangements instituted by
the defunct DPA has ensured that states are directly involved in screening
and selection of pilgrims and excess luggage carriers, adding that states
have also been given the latitude to select their preferred carriers as well
as their pilgrims accommodation.
According to him, the committee is determined to maintain existing rapport
with states as a necessary impetus to attain the collective objective of a
smooth airlift of pilgrims to the holy land and successful hajj.
He said though the committee only took over arrangements on October 26,
2006, barely seven weeks to the commencement of the airlift, it has
undertaken extensive consultations with the approved airlines and
professional stakeholders to address all the identified pitfalls of past
exercises.
Alhaji Bello said the committee’s intension is to engage all stakeholders in
a critical examination of the new Hajj Act for effective implementation of
its provisions that would ensure future hajj operations are no longer
hitches-prone.
He said though the task before the committee is daunting, with the support
and cooperation of stakeholders, this year’s exercise would record one of
the most successful outings by Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land.
The meeting reviewed update on arrangements for the 2006/2007 hajj with
issues on 2006/2007 seat allocations; distribution of passports/procurement
of visa; procurement of Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA); and selections of
excess luggage carriers. Other are procurement/distribution of pilgrim’s
suitcases; second pre-hajj visit to Saudi Arabia; and status of preparation
by selected Airlines.
|
SITE TOOLS |
|
Print This Page
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2006