By Fatima Sanda Usara
This piece is the writer’s personal celebration of some former colleagues that ventured
into an enterprise ingeniously, a move that was regarded by like minds in Hajj corridors
as phenomenal.
It sounds unavoidably extolling, it is not intended to be excessive
though. It is a celebration of cleverness, that shows again that one can retire from civil
service and grow in a wider realm of private practice. If more civil servants would pursue
similar initiatives, retirement would not be a dread.
This write-up is celebrating the faces behind Aero Contractors in the 2023 Hajj airlift. For
the first time, the airline ventured into the business of Hajj airlift in Nigeria with an
assurance that they can give one of the best workable formulas in Hajj aviation
symbiosis. Of course, they went through the same screening process as all else did.
There was skepticism from their status as first timers in the unique Hajj aviation industry
where even a longtimer could turn out to be the predicament of the season. Despite a
convincing pass mark from the screening result, their albatross was their novelty, they
were allocated the least from the 2023 Hajj airlift slots else they would stutter. By the
time they were done with the outbound operation, they left no one in doubt of their
capacity.
Old guards from the family of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), with a
wealth of on-the-field experience in Hajj operations came together to float Aero
Contractors in the 2023 Hajj airlift business. This marriage made an impressive impact
on the 2023 Hajj outbound and inbound operations.
With its Boeing 747 aircraft, Aero contractors concluded airlift of its allotted portion of
passengers within time, and became the toast and hope for the later part of the
outbound operation. From an initial allocation of 7,266 pilgrims, Aero Contractors was
sought to expand its route. The airline ended up transporting 11,676 pilgrims from six
states for the 2023 Hajj outbound operations. No doubt, instead of confining their
knowledge to reclusion, their entry into the private aviation business was a boost to 2023
airlift.
The trio of Alhaji Ahmad Maigari, former Acting Secretary of NAHCON; Alhaji Uba Mana,
a retired Director from NAHCON’s Media Unit; were led by their colleague, Alhaji Liman
Usman, former Head of Licensing; to make a rebound into the Hajj industry through the
aviation sphere. These are advantaged men known to shapers of the industry within
Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia therefore needed no re-introduction around the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation quarters, hence they enjoyed cooperation with their debut.
The lesson here is for one to identify his strength and grab it while it is still relevant. This
group of NAHCON former men knew their advantages and they grabbed it wisely-, the
value of experience is in seeing wisely, and good decisions come from experience which
worked for Aero Contractors.
Hajj operation is a distinct school on its own, because it is a field that demands practical
experience to really grasp the complexity of the system. Its management across the
world is expanding beyond religious exercise to economic, technological frontiers
demanding constant creativity to meet up with and surmount new challenges. Expertise
in the field of Hajj management accords the experienced manager that eagle eye that
identifies an advantage or solution when the usual glitch rears its ugly head. The
NAHCON former men tactically avoided the glitches from experience. Kudos to the
Zikrullah Kunle Hassan’s team for giving Aero Contractors the window to prove their
capacity to deliver. An indelible discovery has been made in the Hajj industry.
Our experienced colleagues came in from behind each time to rescue the Hajj
operations whenever a hag appeared. In the inbound operations too, they played a
significant role in the timely movement of pilgrims back home despite the initial near
catastrophic non allocation of slots to Nigerian airlines.
Indeed, experience is the fertile ground on which NAHCON former men launched their
entrance into independent Hajj operations. They must be commended and encouraged
to dash even further.
And for the sake of thousands of pilgrims who trustingly commit their earnings to travel
for Hajj each year, let experienced persons come together with brilliant initiatives that
would uplift the Hajj encounter from Nigeria for good. This should be a target for the
country’s Hajj minders, a joint venture for the good of all. No single person can raise the
status of Hajj in Nigeria with finality except there is combined effort. It requires an
alliance: of skills, willpower, focus and foresight, sacrifice, and an unwavering army of
intelligent foot-soldiers as manpower.
Usara is an Assistant Director with NAHCON