NCPC BOSS SEEKS GREATER COOPERATION WITH THE NAHCON

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja has stressed the need for continued cooperation between the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). He disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON   Alhaji Abdullahi muktar in Abuja.

The NCPC boss described the Hajj Commission as a ‘Senior Brother’ and as such would be glad to cooperate with the Commission for mutually beneficial relationship. According to him, “we need continued cooperation between the Hajj Commission in technical social and financial matters. He posited that this would help the country better how if there was enhanced cooperation between the two groups.

Rev. Uja recalled with satisfaction how NAHCON was very instrumental to the successful take off of NCPC at the threshold of its creation when the commission accommodated NCPC free in their complex for two years.

He commended NAHCON for its resilience for running pilgrimages over the years on a sound footing. The NCPC helmsman affirmed that the time has come when Nigeria must be built on firm ground.

Rev. Uja explained that Nigeria has invested and is still investing in pilgrimages and as such there is need for the country to begin to reap from such massive spiritual investments. In his words: “Nigeria has commendably invested and is still investing generously in pilgrimage project. The nation therefore deserves positive returns from pilgrimage operations”

He stressed the need for the two Commission to hold regular interactive meetings in order to achieve positive development in the pilgrimage sub sector and accelerated development in our nation.

The NCPC boss further called on  deeper and more lasting programmes that would help to eliminate unnecessary crisis in the country. According to him, “the biggest challenge we face as a nation is the ever heightening religious crisis, notably between Christianity and Islam which we represent”.

Consequently, he stressed the need for NCPC and Hajj Commission to convene a national five day Christian- Muslim Leadership Conference of Nigeria this year which according to him should be held between July and August.

In his response, the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muktar, thanked the Executive Secretary and his team for the visit and for his quality presentation. According to him”, your presentation is full of wisdom, your sincerity touch my emotions, especially in the area of ensuring enduring peace among Christians and Muslims.” He posited that without peace there would be no meaningful development in Nigeria.

He stressed the need to see peace as a priority and vigorously pursued it in line with the agenda of the present administration.

The Chairman canvassed the need for NCPC and Hajj Commission to convene meetings of Executive Secretaries of the States Moslem Pilgrim Welfare Boards and States Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards before convening the national dialogue. He commended the NCPC boss for such creative thinking.

Alhaji Muktar further affirmed that the relationship between NCPC and his Commission was an old one. According to him: “we look at NCPC as a brotherly organization”.

He assured that he would continue to partner with NCPC and dialogue in order to improve on the statutory functions of the two Agencies.

He hinted that this year his Commission would improve upon the success recorded in 2016 Hajj operations.

According to the Chairman, “we are in a very difficult economic situation in the country, we are looking inward on how to reduce the cost component of the Hajj fares”.

He assured the NCPC boss of the unalloyed support of his Commission and would continue to partner with NCPC so as to take the Commission to the next level.

This was the first official courtesy visit of NCPC to HAHCON since the assumption of duty of Rev. Tor Uja in May last year as the Executive Secretary.

The courtesy visit was graced by all the top management staff of the two Faith Agencies of Nigeria.