By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

A group of 43 Advance Team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will depart Abuja today, Sunday, May 12, 2024 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to mark the start of the 2024 Hajj Season.

The team made up of 35 NAHCON Officials and 8 Medical Personnel will be in Saudi Arabia for the final preparation to receive the first set of Nigerian pilgrims from Kebbi State who would be arriving the Kingdom on Wednesday 15th May for the 2024 Holy Pilgrimage.

Addressing the Team in a brief farewell ceremony in the boardroom of the Hajj House, the Chairman/CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, congratulated the team on being chosen and urged them to live up to expectation by discharging their duties in accordance with their mandate.

Stressing that their performance could make or mar the success of the exercise, he said: “You are the first point of call or contact with the pilgrims.

“Their impression and perception of your action or activities will go a long way towards assessing the Commission.

“If you get it right, we get it right and on the contrary, if you get it wrong, the rest will just be about crisis management.

“Therefore, you must be up and doing in order to earn our reward here and that of Allah in the Hereafter for treating His Guests well. They are the reason you are there, so at every point in time, make sure you attend or treat them with courtesy and respect.”

A statement by Mousa Ubandanwaki, Deputy Director, Information & Publications Division, NAHCON, yesterday (Saturday) also quoted the chairman warning that the Commission would take drastic step against anyone who may be reported to have deviated from the rules of engagement, stating that he would not hesitate to recall any staff accused of dereliction of duties.

He further called on them to take the admonition seriously, the bar has been raised and the expectation is high.

“You have been carefully selected because of the trust we have in you and as such, you need to brace up. Laxity and procrastination will not be tolerated”, he added.

Malam Arabi also spoke of the need for the medical personnel “to respect their patients and pilgrims on whose essence you are going there”, adding: “You must serve and treat them fairly, gently and with utmost respect”.

The NAHCON Chairman reminded the team to work in unity and harmony as they are representatives of the Commission and Nigeria as they would be assessed and monitored.

“I want to urge you to work as team, cooperate with one another. Those of you who are veterans should assist and guide those who are new on the job so that we can achieve success collectively”, he stated.

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