NAHCON signs concession agreement on PPP to develop Kano Hajj camp market
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have signed a concessionary agreement on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with DID Al amanah on the development of over 500 shops in the Kano Hajj Camp market.
The agreement was signed recently in the Hajj House Boardroom, Abuja. The project had reached 80% completion, a statement by Yusuf Mohammed Kulloma and Sani Shafi’I disclosed.
The NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan, welcomed those present to witness the signing ceremony that included representatives of DID Al amanah, the partners in the concession agreement, Barr. Abdulsalam Musbah; Legal Adviser and Alhaji Awwalu Shinkafi; Director.
Others present at the occasion were representative of Ag. Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Olusola Ogunsola and Mr Chinedu Nwiyuwe. Also present was the Transaction Adviser, Mr Tomiwa Aregbesola from Halcrow as well as the committee members from NAHCON.
In his opening remarks, the NAHCON Chairman stated that since inauguration of the board into office, they had pursued the intention of turning waste into wealth dedicatedly with the intention of remaining independent of government funding.
To nurture this independence successfully, Alhaji Hassan said the Commission needed the ICRC to guide it towards expanding its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under the PPP arrangement. The NAHCON Chairman expressed appreciation on the trust displayed by DID Al-amana for partnering with NAHCON and commencing work even without signing of agreement.
The Chairman also commended the NAHCON staff committee charged with the concession program under the Chairmanship of Dr Ibrahim M Sodangi (FCIA).
Alhaji Hassan expressed confidence that the Commission’s landed properties in Ilorin, Lagos and Maiduguri will soon follow on the development plan.
In his own submission, representative of the DG ICRC congratulated NACHON for the successful implementation of the Kano project. The signing between NAHCON and DID Al-amana took place while ICRC representatives witnessed the process.
On his part, NAHCON Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakasai revealed that one of their priorities after taking over was deliberating on how to improve the Commission’s IGR.
“Due to the vast land and commercial activities in Kano, the centre became first choice for this project and NAHCON appreciates ICRC for its zeal in making the project materialise.
“Our next project will be in Lagos. We also want to give thanks and appreciation to the members of the committee headed by Dr Ibrahim Sodangi and also to our Chairman,” he said.
MUSWEN commends NAHCON initiatives
In another development, NAHCON played host to a three Man delegation from the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) led by Alhaji Razak Oladejo.
NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan in his welcome address to the delegation expressed delight at the visit. While acknowledging the emergency nature and challenges of this year’s Hajj, he stated that it was a learning curve for the Commission and further announced that the Commission will commence preparation for the 2023 Hajj in the next few weeks.
On the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), Alhaji Hassan, commented that as a new concept in the country, it was bound to have some teething problems but expressed optimism that with time, the scheme would bring enormous benefit to the country in the nearest future as in Malaysia and Indonesia where the profits from a similar scheme had been used to subsidise the cost of Hajj for this year and years past.
He further reiterated that the advantages of HSS would not be felt by NAHCON alone but the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
The chairman made it known that the Hajj Institute would formally be launched in three months’ time with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to declare the Institute opened.
Alhaji Hassan further disclosed that he and his commissioners and some management staff of the commissions would form the first set of enrollees at the Institute.
Alhaji Razak Oladejo, the leader of the MUSWEN delegation commended the commission on the successful 2022 Hajj operations despite the challenges.
He also commended some of the initiatives listed by the NAHCON Chairman and expressed his belief that the HSS would help generate revenue for the Commission.
Oladejo emphasised that the Hajj Institute is necessary to educate and train operators and service providers in the Hajj and Umrah industry to professionalise the services enjoyed by pilgrims.
He further called on the NAHCON boss for uniformity in regulations and sanctions against defaulters which he stated will help sanitise the Hajj industry.
