FOLLOWING the determination of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON ), to rid the industry of quacks and faceless operators, the commission has has released the list of successful Hajj licensed operators for 2017.

Out of the 176 companies that had applied for licence to carry out hajj operations this year, only 131 were approved by the commission. This decision followed the pre-qualifications exercise and investigations carried out by the Commission in December 2016.

According to NAHCON, the 45 disqualified companies have up to February 28 this month to appeal their disqualification to the Commission. While Amco Travel & Tour Ltd, Pyramid Travel & Tour Ltd and Qualitex Travel & Tour Ltd were disqualified for violation of 2016 hajj operation rites, several others were refused licence for non submission of form and payment of mandatory N5million.

Approved companies

Some of the qualified companies are Adson Travel And Tours Ltd, Africano Global Links, Agaji Travelling Agency Ltd,Al- Faozan Travel And Tour Ltd, Al-Fatiha Travel And Tour Ltd, Al-Gazal Travel And Tour Ltd.

Others are Al-Halal Travel And Tour Ltd, Al-Haqq Travel And Tour Ltd, Al-Hujjaj Internetional Ltd All-State Travel And Tour Ltd, Labbaik Hajj  Services Ltd, Land  Air Sea Services Libra Gold  Travel And Tour Ltd, Luday Travel And Tour Ltd, Madinah Travel And Tours Ltd.

Others include Maqbul International Ltd, Masanawa Travel And Tour Ltd, Matasa World –WIDE Travel Ltd Mecca Medinah Travela Nd Tour Ltd, Med-View Travel Konsult Ltd, Meeqat Travel And Tour Ltd Memelad  Tour Ltd, Mishkat Travel And Tour Ltd, Modern Travel  And Tour Ltd, Moslima Travel And Tour Ltd, Msl Travel And Tour Ltd, Mubsh-Shrin Air Services Ltd, Mumtazam Travelling Agency Murna Travel And Tours Ltd, Namira Umrah And Hajj Services, among others.

The airlift operations, the accommodation arrangements, the feeding, luggage and Holy sites activities are the major issues that hajj operating companies embark under the guidance of NAHCON every year.

In November last year, NAHCON met with the leadership of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) on the need to play by the rules and regulations guiding the holy trips.

AHUON President, Alhaji Abdulfatai Abdulmajeed expressed joy with the leadership of the commission for their services.

Last year, there was Presidential directive over the implementation of some recommendations contained in 2015 Hajj report, where NAHCON was directed to collaborate with security agencies to stem the tide of fraudulent activities in Hajj and Umrah.