National Association of Retired Hajj Administrators of Nigeria, (NARHAN) has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of 2024 Hajj operation despite the challenges that herald the pre-Hajj activities.

NARHAN is an association comprising former Executive Secretaries of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and veterans of Hajj operations at the national level.

The association, in a statement jointly signed by its chairman who was also the immediate past chairman of Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, Alhaji Bukar Kime Dapsa, Secretary Bako Apapa, also a former Executive Secretary of Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, and the Group’s Technical/Media Adviser, Ibrahim Muhammed, and issued after the 2024 review meeting by its Executives held on July 20, highlighted the areas of success in this year’s Hajj as well as critical areas that need further improvement in next coming exercise.

“We applaud NAHCON, airlines and relevant stakeholders for successfully conducting 2024 hajj airlift operations with minimal challenges. This has shown that the Nigerian Hajj Industry is moving forward progressively. We are also aware of the difficulties in health services due to the record-breaking heat wave experienced by 2024 hajj pilgrims, especially in Masha’ir areas.

“The medical team has done a great service to Nigerian Muslims in this year’s hajj, and we pray that Almighty Allah rewards everyone involved,” it stated.

The group also acknowledged the improvement in feeding and a relative increase in Tent ‘D’ spaces in Mina this year compared with last years’ experience.

“We, however, call for a more proactive approach towards a better mapping of the numbers of pilgrims performing hajj and how to effectively cater for their services, especially when pilgrims pay for all the services they receive during Hajj.

“We also called for more transparency on the issue of financial interventions during Hajj operations and for the commission to close the gap that creates room for uncertainty that made it possible for states to pay different sums of BTA to their pilgrims this year,” the statement added.

The retired administrators promised to take appropriate measures to monitor 2025 Hajj preparations within the scope of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and also contribute their experience and expertise in educating Nigerian pilgrims and Hajj administrators on how to avoid operational conflicts during Hajj.

“As part of our mission, NARHA will soon organize a Hajj press conference to highlight critical areas that need a quick response from the apex Hajj regulatory body to ensure a more transparent approach towards the 2025 Hajj exercise,” they promised.