To ensure a successful Hajj this year, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) pledged on Wednesday to work in tandem with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
At a courtesy visit to NAHCON Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, at the Hajj House in Abuja, Acting Comptroller General, NIS, Alhaji Idris Isa Jere, provided the assurance.
In keeping with his prior commitment to Hassan, Jere claims that the purpose of his visit to the Hajj House was to reassure the NAHCON Chairman about the NIS’s dedication to supporting the Hajj body in organizing a successful Hajj operation this year.
Towards this aim, he added that the Immigrations Service had already deployed its officials in all the 10 Hajj departure centres around the country with a directive to coordinate seamless immigration clearance for the pilgrims.
According to Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at NAHCON, Jere also gave the Commission chairman the assurance that passport offices around Nigeria had been given strict instructions to make it easier for intending pilgrims to obtain passports.
The Immigration Acting Comptroller General stated that this was done in order to prevent any eligible individuals from being denied the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Responding, Alhaji Hassan praised the Immigration helmsman for the visit and expressed relief and faith in Jere’s ability.
He praised the head of Immigration’s efforts as the leader of a sister agency that collaborates with NAHCON to make sure that all eligible pilgrims can easily go to Mecca for the Hajj.
Hassan promised the NIS Acting Comptroller General that NAHCON would do everything necessary to maintain the cordial working relationship between the two agencies.
Jere was greeted at the Hajj House by Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), and Sheikh Suleiman Momoh, Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS) of NAHCON.
