NAHCON gets FG’s approval to develop commercial properties

The Federal Government has approved the development of commercial properties, warehouses and zonal office in Kano for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

A statement issued by Manji Yarling, Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), stated that the approval was given on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

According to the statement, the project which will be carried out through PPP arrangement is to be on concession for a period of 35 years.

It said, “With this development, all is now set for the signing of concession agreement with the concessionaire.

“The ICRC had earlier received an unsolicited proposal from Did Al Amana Nigeria Ltd seeking to develop NAHCON’s 2.6 hectare property located at its zonal office in Kano State through PPP arrangement.

“This is for the purpose of commercial shops, warehouses, NAHCON zonal office and accompanying support services like mosque, banks and others on a PPP basis.”

The ICRC said that some of the benefits of the project would be to serve as a major source of internally generated revenue for the commission.

It would also extend the assets’ life, reduce life cycle costs, ensure availability and overall asset management methodology which would allow NAHCON to fully carry out its functions efficiently.

The statement said that NAHCON was established to license, regulate, supervise and perform oversight functions over organisations, associations or similar bodies.

This is in providing accommodation, transportation and other services related to the performance of Hajj and Umrah of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

This follows the realisation that the commercial development of some properties owned by the commission would help to raise the needed funds to meet up with the continuous growth of Hajj activities in the country.