The kind of transportation used by Hajj tour operators is distinct from
the one that caters for state pilgrims. Hajj tour operators will pay for
the regular type of buses under the Saudi niqaabah (transport)
syndicate, just to satisfy the condition of the Saudi Hajj Ministry. In
addition to that payment, tour operators also pay for VIP buses,
according to the standard of their packages, to cater for the transport
needs of their pilgrims. These buses are of newer models than the ones
under the niqaabah system. My company, for example, will use the latest
model of buses in a particular year. Meaning, in Hajj 2016 for example,
we used either 2016 model, or even, 2017 as it is possible to get future
versions of some vehicles six months before the end of the year. We, in
essence, do not accept any standard below the latest model of buses in
our Hajj operations!
Is this to display luxury and class, as some
have wrongly concluded? No! The reason for using only the newest buses
is simple. The private tour operator is sought only by those who want
something beyond the barest minimum, which the State Pilgrims Boards
provide. There are very good reasons for that barest minimum but that is
not the issue at hand presently. The buses under the niqaabah
arrangement are notorious for breaking down at crucial moments. They
also do not wait for pilgrims; they discharge their passengers at each
stage in the Hajj rites and go. They only return to pick the passengers
when the time is due and in such cases, the traffic situation often
means trekking to your next destination would be a better idea. With VIP
buses, you hardly encounter that kind of problem. The VIP buses remain
with the pilgrims at each stage of the Hajj rites and they are equipped
with onboard television, Wi-Fi, mini-fridge and toilet. They are fully
air-conditioned and the engines run as long as pilgrims are within the
buses, keeping the pilgrims in relative comfort. The spacing in the
buses ensures adequate leg space which is crucial when you have to
remain in traffic for hours at a stretch.
Private Hajj companies
are not out to compete with the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and
agencies in any way. We are to provide services above what obtains under
the state arrangement. Any tour operator who measures the services of
his company with that of the States has brought ridicule into this
industry. Private Hajj operations are different from those of state
pilgrims. The fares are not the same, thus, both the clientele and
standard of service differ. Those who derailed during Hajj 2017 by
giving a rate that was lower than what the states charged, failed
lamentably as some of them ended up accommodating pilgrims in secondary
schools in Makkah, or keeping them in houses that even the states are
forbidden from using.
Hajj tour operators are committed to
assisting the pilgrims in performing a Mabrur (acceptable) Hajj, thus,
they organise Hajj induction course for their pilgrims, days to the
departure. The focus of the seasoned private Hajj operator is to remove
the burden of logistics from the mind of the pilgrim thereby enhancing
his ability to perform his Hajj without let or hindrance.
From a
smoother and quicker airlift arrangement, using scheduled flights and
not chartered flight arrangements, to hotels closer to the haram, which
ensure that the pilgrim has no excuse to miss the huge reward of salat
in the Haram mosque to the quality of food, accommodation and tents,
there is a distinction between the two.
The two questions raised
by the topic: How genuine? How committed show the mindset of the average
Nigerian Muslim about what we do. At the risk of sounding immodest, the
answer to those two questions is, “very much so!”. We have our fair
share of bad eggs. They are few and we know them. We have an association
called the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON).
These bad eggs are usually not one of us or they register with the
Association for the mere formality of it; never attending meetings and
never contributing a dime to the Association. They cut corners and think
the business is nothing more than a quick way to make money. The fear
of Allah is the last thing on their mind when they are serving their
clients.
The genuine private Hajj operator is different. The
committed Hajj operator ensures both value for money on the one hand and
profitability on the other hand. Some of us lose untold sums of money
each year to make up for the lapses in the services we procure on behalf
of our clients; paying more than the pilgrim paid to make sure the
pilgrim does not imagine that he has been cheated out of his money. The
commitment to excellence is carried to a near extreme in the case of
some of us. We do not think of the cost, for example, when the airline
cannot confirm our return dates to Nigeria and our pilgrims have to
spend an extra night or two in Saudia. We move the pilgrims to Jeddah
after their check-out date in Makkah, lodge them into five-star hotels
(we had the choice of lower class accommodation) and feed them from our
purse. For companies like mine, that cost comes to millions of naira.
Often times, the hotel bills are only settled months after return to
Nigeria, as the company’s bank accounts are showing the same colour as
blood.
We have been known to upgrade pilgrims from one five-star
hotel, for which they originally paid, to a better five-star hotel on
the mere hint that the original hotel of choice would not satisfy the
high standards to which we adhere. We go as far as approaching the hotel
chefs to allow us to cook Nigerian dishes in the hotel’s kitchen;
something that is difficult to achieve in Saudia. My company, for
example, pioneered bringing Zam Zam to Nigeria for the pilgrims to ease
the burden of carrying the heavy containers of divine liquid. All the
pilgrims have to do is to present their identity cards upon return and
collect one container of Zam Zam.
We also return the excess money
paid by pilgrims to us when we find the airline charged less than the
pilgrim deposited. Please do not think that by all I have mentioned, it a
perfect arrangement with private Hajj operators. It is not. We have our
challenges and we have those who resort to sharp practices. NAHCON has
become very adept at fishing out these and sanctioning them
appropriately. The picture I have tried to paint for those who see us
from afar and who see us as opportunistic and capitalistic is that we
are as committed as anyone can be to the success of Hajj operations in
Nigeria at the lowest rates possible under the circumstances. What do we
gain from exorbitant rates which mean fewer people patronise us?
Nothing! We remember this business is an act of worship for which we
will be rewarded when done sincerely and honestly and it is this fact
that drives many of us to excellence. As for the few who are not so
genuine or committed, we ask Allah to guide them.
In conclusion, I
would like to appeal to the public to desist from sharing information
on Haj and its cost, the source of which is not ascertained. I have come
across such posts apportioning quite impossible figures to the various
Hajj components like airfare, tickets and accommodation, asking why the
cost of Hajj is so high despite their contrived figures and urging
everyone to share these false figures with the hope of creating doubts
and ill feelings in the minds of the people. The contents of the sixth
verse in Suratul Hujuraat (Q49:6) will help us in this regard. The
genuine commitment of the private Hajj operator is not in doubt and the
few who are not doing the right thing should not be the yardstick for
measuring the rest of us. We also need the help of the public and we
urge you to raise an alarm, talk to our Association leaders or approach
the National Hajj Commission directly to lodge a formal complaint if any
private tour operator has given you less than you paid for. It is your
right and you should exercise it.
Friday, April 6th, 2018
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