His Excellency, Ambassador Yahya Lawal, the Nigerian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has praised the discipline of the pilgrims from Lagos State as being among the best in the country for the ongoing Hajj ritual.
This was stated by Ambassador Lawal while he was leading a delegation that also included the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alh. On Thursday, Zikhrullah Kunle Hassan and other senior agency executives paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos tent in Mina.
The Diplomat sent all of the State’s pilgrims his best wishes on behalf of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Additionally, he stated that the delegation had visited on Mr. President’s instruction.
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He said, “The President requested that the team visit the pilgrims and we are impressed with their exemplary conduct which was a reflection of the effective and efficient works the Amir-ul-Hajj and other officials of the State government have put in place.
He exhorted the pilgrims to pray for Nigeria’s development, stability, peace, security, and general well-being.
In turn, Alh. Neither NAHCON nor the State officials, according to Zikhrullah Kunle Hassan, are to blame for the difficulties the pilgrims are experiencing due to the insufficient provision of sleeping accommodations and meals in Mina.
The NAHCON leader acknowledged that the Hajj is about challenges and sacrifices, but he also expressed regret to the pilgrims for all the mistakes and challenges they had to face. He prayed that Allah would recognize their Hajj as an act of ibaadah and grant them Aljanat Fridaus.
Hassan clarified that the $700 Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) given to each pilgrim was not unique to Lagos but to every Nigerian pilgrim. He emphasized that from the initial $800 the pilgrims were anticipated to collect as BTA, NAHCON had to deduct $100 due to the war in Sudan and the airlines’ demands for an increase in airfare.
He confirmed that although Flynas, a Saudi Arabian airline that flew the 3,662 pilgrims to Lagos, did not request any increases, NAHCON decided to also deduct $100 from each of its pilgrims for the sake of equity and fairness, while the agency on its part also added $250 for each pilgrim across the country.
The State Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, praised the pilgrims’ endurance, saying that they had shown it despite their discomfort with the inadequate accommodations, including the type of food served by the Saudi caterers hired by the service providers, who were responsible for the pilgrims’ well-being.
He pleaded with NAHCON to persuade the Saudi Arabian authorities to turn over the kitchen to each of the participating States, arguing that they are in the best position to provide regional specialties for their pilgrims through reputable caterers during subsequent exercises.
He also hoped that NAHCON would make sure that the airlifting of the pilgrims back to Nigeria started as soon as possible and went smoothly.
For the purpose of capping off the Mina activities, the Board has in the interim organized a special prayer session.
The prayer session which is usually done annually before pilgrims depart Mina for Makkah on the third day of throwing pebbles at the Jamarat was designed to specifically pray to Allah to accept the Hajj exercise, the supplications of the pilgrims, pray for the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and the good people of the State as well as for peace and tranquillity in Nigeria as a whole.
