HAJJ OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION: THE CASE FOR BETTER ACCOMMODATION

Bismillahi ArRahman ArRahim

PERSPECTIVE AND PURPOSE

This paper will seek to examine the operational challenges in Hajj Administration especially as it relates to the subject matter of accommodation in Mecca & Medina and the recurring yearly state of affairs in the living arrangements at Minna.

The objective will be that at the end of this presentation our position will create the premise for an engaging and healthy debate that will ultimately proffer solution to the inconveniences of our pilgrims in the performance of the 2012 and subsequent hajj operations.

1. WHERE WE ARE: THE STATUS QUO. (A) (Makka & Madina)

The achievements witnessed during the 2011 Hajj operations were no doubt the result of a seamless synergy between the Hajj Commission and the relevant stakeholders, most importantly but not limited to; the state pilgrims boards. However even as we celebrate these achievements it is important for us to make sure that our preparation for the 2012 operations result in meeting our vision of providing efficient and effective service to our pilgrims.

It has become painfully obvious that the condition of the living quarters of our pilgrims especially in Makkah needs to be addressed. I believe we are all in agreement that the logistical nightmare, the health and environmental hazards and personal inconvenience our pilgrims encounter in every hajj has a direct connection with the state of the accommodation they are provided. As a spiritual journey every pilgrim prepares for certain inconveniences in personal comfort no doubt, however looking at the challenges that we have been able to surmount in the 2011 hajj operation, together we can also improve on the accommodation arrangements in the 2011 Hajj operations.

The most vexing of the inconvenience our pilgrims have to bear in this regard is the distance between where they are quartered to the Masjid-al-Haram. More often than not it becomes quite a task commuting to perform prayers on a daily basis. Directly related to this challenge and predictably too, pilgrims became disillusioned, confused, tired and in some serious cases cannot find their way back to the residences. We as officials know this only too well.

The National Hajj Commission, as part of our mandate is greatly concerned, that as part of the fallout of the accommodation challenges is the reputation and image of the Nigerian pilgrim. It is almost at its lowest ebb. We are yet to develop a decent mapping and address system database that will provide information at a glance as to who lives where, the paths/roads, and visual displays that will greatly enhance the operational aspects of our duties thereby making the Hajj experience more convenience for the pilgrim.

Thirdly, the Hajj as Ibada has certain requirements that are obligatory. As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), for any pilgrim that hopes his/her Ibada be acceptable, capability (Al-Ishita) is a very important condition. It is stated that being incapable makes the Hajj not obligatory to any Muslim. This of course refers to provision for expenses covering the exercise and provision for safety and security of pilgrims throughout the trip. The former is the sole responsibility of the pilgrim, but the latter is our mandate as officials that have accepted to serve this noble spiritual cause. In this regard, the safety and security of pilgrims is directly related to where they reside for the duration of their spiritual journey. Once a pilgrim is able to cover the financial expenses of his/her trip, we as officials have indirectly accepted to guarantee his safety and security. It therefore becomes our responsibility to try and secure convenient, comfortable and accessible living quarters for our pilgrims. The truth is, it even makes our own work and duties easier and forestalls the inexcusable poor accommodation arrangements that have bedeviled this aspect of Hajj.

(B) Mina

The challenges our pilgrims face for the 3 days in Mina are varied. However, one of the most critical is the condition of the sleeping arrangements. A good number of States have continued to allow their pilgrims stay in the category C tents. For all intents and purposes, these tents provide the barest of necessities. Bare floor, mats, public restrooms, congestion, and personal feeding arrangements. The Mina ritual is an important part of the Hajj operation. The degree of its complexity increases when each State pilgrim board undertake the planning individually. This action involves the performance of the same action simultaneously by each state doing more or less of the same thing, increasing its complexity and guaranteeing inconvenience by our pilgrims. Sanitary, health and security hazards are a common denominator, as a result pilgrims undergo excruciating living arrangements that we believe are inexcusable.

The challenges so far listed aforementioned are not in the least exhaustible or the most critical in the overall Hajj management operations; however a healthy debate to proffer solutions will enhance our ability and effort in the discharge of our collective functions of providing service in matters regarding the better welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

2. WHERE WE WANT TO BE: THE PROPOSAL

In the years since the establishment of the National Hajj Commission, we have enjoyed an enviable and complimentary working relationship with the State pilgrim board. It is this synergy that has translated to the improvement of the services we provide at the end of every Hajj Operation. This co-operation and input from the state pilgrim board, we will continue to seek as partners.

For each and every pilgrim, the official face and first point of convergence and response in his/her spiritual journey is the State pilgrim board. The Board as well is responsible for arranging all the travel arrangements to and from the Holy Land. The success of the pilgrimage for the pilgrim is therefore for the most part hinged on the services provided by the Board at both Local Government and State levels. The accommodation challenges, seen in this light can only be addressed with the full support and collaboration of the State Pilgrim Board.

Our preliminary studies have shown that alternative accommodation, closer to the Masjid-Al-Haram would not add to the financial expenses of the Pilgrim, if we, as service providers are able to plan early. At the most, the financial increase will be marginal. The proposition is therefore to expand energy and effort in selecting a team with the technical knowledge and requisite logistics and administrative experience to tackle this problem and make suggestions, with the condition that the alternative accommodation be accessible, closer to the Masjid, convenient in terms of better sleeping, health and sanitary conditions. This proposition identifies certain shortcomings inherent in our collective arrangements for pilgrim accommodation and seeks to collectively decide on a better alternative. As we have done recent challenges that we faced and tackled, it is not insurmountable.

During the last Hajj, we undertook small study, and made discreet inquiries on the conditions, categories and the costs of renting alternative but better tents at Mina. Category ‘B’ is a step higher than what most of our states presently are occupying, and as all of us know; are fitted with mattresses, air-conditioning, better sanitary arrangements and a feeding arrangement factored as well; for the negligible cost 700 Saudi rivals per pilgrim. Our suggestion if collectively agreed would be for these expenses to be embedded into the Hajj fare at source. We believe, intending pilgrims would not be averse to taking these modest financial expenses for the convenience of better habitable living quarters at Mina.

POSTSCRIPT

A. Early Preparations: The success or otherwise of the Nigerian Hajj operations has been largely dependent on early preparations. The complexities and the huge logistical and administrative efforts involved in the Hajj operations cannot be addressed wholesome in this presentation. However we would attempt to point out areas that relate to our earlier posts on the accommodation/residential challenges.

A forum like this one, to review performance, and propose ways and means to better ourselves and/or to redress our shortcomings in the last Hajj operations provides an excellent opportunity for all of us as stakeholders. Early preparations/planning by the States and at the National Hajj Commission is a necessity.

B REMITTANCES: To prepare early, it is absolutely necessary that all financial obligation be met latest by February. Once financial remittances are taken care of early, it gives us enough time to concentrate on other logistical preparations.

C. ORIENTATION/ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGNS: Any person that signifies intent of undertaking the pilgrimage must undergo an intensive orientation campaign that must go beyond the spiritual. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia as we are all aware undergoes structural development at breakdown speed, so much so that even to the experienced, sometimes it takes some time to assimilate. A multitude of our pilgrims are, as we are all aware making this trip for the first time.

Moreso, now that kingdom in its new rules; issues visa to only pilgrims on the basis of being first timers or have performed the Hajj once within a five year period.

New processes and developments must be carefully explained and if available visualized to our intending pilgrims.

CONCLUSION

Over the years we have collectively proven that together, the National Hajj Commission, the State Pilgrim Board and all relevant stakeholders can surmount the various challenges we face in the operations of the Hajj. This postulation is obvious with our recent successes in the 2011 Hajj. We know that with each Hajj are new experiences and new challenges. The will to succeed and make every hajj operation better is hinged on the synergies that are established between the different agencies and all stakeholders.

Our task as always will remain conducting all matters concerning the well-being and welfare of Nigerian Pilgrims and this task we must engage with all our ability, because this is a cause that is both spiritual and noble.

THE HAJJ SUBSIDY DISCOURSE.

PREAMBLE

The Islamic Religion in built on Five Pillars, one of which is the observance and practice of the ritual of Hajj. In the Holy Qur’an Chapter 3 verse 97, Allah (SWT) Says,” Pilgrimage (to mecca) Thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, for those who can afford the Journey. But if any deny faith, Allah (SWT) stands in need from any of his creatures:-

Additionally the Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported in a Hadith to have said,” Allah made the observance of Hajj obligatory on you, so observe it”

The performance ritual of Hajj on Muslims at least once in a lifetime therefore becomes an obligatory religious duty to all Muslims.

INTRODUCTION.

In the strictest economic definition the financial commitment of Govt to the Hajj operations does not qualify as subsidy, this is so because subsidies are supposed to economically encourage sales, keep down costs, encourage expansion or achieve self reliance in some kind of economic activity. In my opinion therefore, the best fitting phrase will be, Government financial assistance or Aid to Hajj operations. Seen in this context it would be hard to point the fault of Govt. assistance to its citizens in the obligatory performance of a religion duty. More so when these citizens constitute a little more than half of its 140 million Population.

The Planning & structure of the Hajj operation is a huge operational and logistical task for the National Hajj Commission, from airlift timelines, consular issues travel documentation, health & spiritual (Guides) etc until every pilgrim in returned back home.

Being a spiritual journey, the patience of pilgrims more often than not, is stretched to the limit. The reasons not limited to the fact that most are embarking on this trip for the first time in their lives after years of saving their earnings on what they truly believe is a Journey of a lifetime.

(A). THE ECONOMICS

Earlier it was shown that, by definition the Govt. only gives financial and operational assistance and not subsidy. This is so because, the Hajj ritual is not an economic or financial profit venture, but a personal spiritual journey that Govt. in a benevolent manner decides to lessen some of the hardships encountered by its citizens.

Secondly, despite the fact that arrangements can take considerable amount of time, the actual ritual itself is just about week, and the whole trip for all the pilgrims, about a month.

Thirdly, over the years, a vast array of integrated business ventures have evolved around the Hajj Operations in Airline and Travel that are Nigerian owned & operated, employing thousands of Nigeria citizens and sustained over the years for the fact that it is an obligatory yearly ritual.

(B). THE SPIRITUAL

Nigerians to say the least, are very spiritual. They usually take issues of religion more serious than even State Policy.

For Muslims, the Hajj is One of the Five pillars of Islam and a spiritual journey that every Muslim must undertake at least once in a lifetime.

If Govt. wants a slice of the spiritual pie, it must be seen to be making some contribution to its baking. How could the same Govt. that seeks the prayers of its citizens and religious leaders withdraw from assisting them (citizens) in one of the most profound obligatory religious ritual? Moreover, it profits Govt. more, if by this subsidy the ritual of Hajj becomes more easily attainable and lessen the hardship and difficulties, often encountered by pilgrims.

THE SOCIAL (POLITICAL) ISSUES

The 2011 Hajj has been adjudged by the pilgrims, the Saudi Govt. and diverse stakeholders to be the best organized in recent times. However, the Govt. has been reluctant (surprisingly) to publicly take due credit and advantage of this success, more so been that this Hajj operation was conducted under the leadership of a Christian political Head.

The foremost political issue to consider regarding the pros of the Hajj subsidy is that Muslims number more than half the population of 140 million Nigerians domiciled in 5 of the 7 geo-political zones. To any politician, acquiring the goodwill of such number would be a dream come true. On the flipside, upsetting the status- quo of rendering Govt. Assistance to faith based rituals in any of Nigeria’s two Major religions would be a political disaster difficult to manage. Here, it is important to mention despite the subsidy’ there has never been a year the Federal Govt. has not increased Hajj Fares, yet it passes hardly without a whimper by Muslims, this is to because more often than not the state Govts. take it upon themselves to carry the financial difference wherever there is an increase. It is not difficult to see why. Pilgrims usually pay airfares and are airlifted to and from the holy land pronged on a state of origin basis.

PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS (STATUS-QUO )

It would not take a genius to decode the issue of the moment in Nigerian polity is a 7 letter word “subsidy”. The Majority Public Opinion of course is opposite of Govt. intention. The debate has brought divisions that are deep and contentious. Just like previous debates on the fuel subsidy, Govt. is looking at the matter solely on the financial figures. If the contemplation of the removal of Fuel subsidy could evoke such bitter and passionate arguments with daily threats of mass strikes, it begs the question, is the timing for the removal of hajj subsidy right?

Does Govt. not have more than enough on its plate already in terms of Public discontent?.

Will Govt. be able to take on the predictable antagonistic sermons of religions leaders to their followers of a Govt. that has the plans of relinquishing its responsibilities to its citizens in matters of faith? If Govt. cannot provide relief for its citizens to perform a religious ritual that happens once every year, what are the expectations of citizens in the provision of basic services promised by the Govt.

EPILOGUE

The Hajj ritual undoubtedly the only singular event in Nigeria that relocates over 100,000 Nigerians at one time, to another country and brings them back home after about 4 weeks. In the 50 years, this operation was broken only once at the instance of the Saudi Govt. The Federal Govt. Of Nigerian has duty to cater to the well being and dignity of its citizens within and outside its shores. The spiritual Nature of this ritual for over 100,000 citizens will not be clearer until Govt. continues as it has always done to assist and aid its citizens in the peaceful, organized conduct of the Hajj.