Hajj 2022: Lagos Emerges Overall Third Best

Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB) has emerged as the third best Pilgrims Board in Nigeria in the recently concluded 2022 Hajj operations.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the State also won the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) Best States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards Public Relations Officers’ Award through Mr. Taofeek Lawal, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of LSMPWB.

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According to the report of the Assessment and Award Committee for 2022 Hajj which was submitted on September 21, 2022, Lagos State came third with 114 points out of 130 cumulative points behind Yobe State which clinched the first position with 117 points while Kaduna State came second with 115 points respectfully.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi expressed his gratitude to Allah over the development, saying it is a thing of joy that the State was counted amongst the first three states that performed tremendously well in the provision of excellent hajj service delivery to its pilgrims, despite the many challenges encountered during the exercise.

The Commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support towards the successful 2022 haji operations.

He also commended the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic matters, Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Board Chairman, Engr. (Imam) Shakiru Ayinde Gafar; Board members, Ulamah (Clerics), Hajj Guides, entire Staff as well as the pilgrims for exhibiting exemplary conduct throughout their stay in the holy land.

Elegushi assured that the State would not relent in its commitment toward providing qualitative hajj service delivery to its pilgrims at all times, revealing that the Board has commenced preparation for the forthcoming 2023 Hajj exercise.

The Assessment and Award Committee which was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Thursday, June 16, 2022, before the Hajj exercise, was mandated to monitor the States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SMPWBs) to identify those that excelled in service delivery to its Pilgrims and score each accordingly.

The Committee was also mandated to access and determine the level of performance of each state in terms of preparation before and during the actual conduct of the 2022 Hajj.
Other responsibilities of the Committee include grading the performance of each state on all indices identified, collating information about the work structure of each state and recommending to NAHCON those who deserve to be awarded.

While submitting its report, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Usman remarked that the SMPWBs were assessed in 27 different areas, including compliance to the expected milestones in the calendar, official structures, facilities, discipline and effective use of the organisational structures and facilities.

He added that data were collated from security surveys, interviews with Pilgrims, Non-Governmental Organisations present on the field during the onshore operations, collective observations by the team members, interviews with staff and visits to various pilgrims’ accommodations.

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Others are consistency in attending hajj preparatory meetings called by NAHCON, time of remittance of hajj fare, quality of suitcases, BTA processing and compliance to Muna outing regulations, among others.

While commending the Committee whose members were veterans of the Hajj industry in Nigeria and drawn from various States, the NAHCON Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Magaji Hardawa, eulogised them and prayed to Allah to reward them for their painstaking effort.

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