As Nigerian Muslim Pilgrims Return, Amirul Hajj Scores 2011 Hajj Operations

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar the Third
The Sultan of Sokoto

As Nigerian Muslim Pilgrims Return, Amirul Hajj Scores 2011 Hajj Operations
Qasim Akinreti, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  

Nigerian Muslim pilgrims have started returning home after successfully completing the 2011 Hajj rites.

A Medview Airline flight departed from the King Abdul Azeez International Airport in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia , on Friday night, with 505 Muslim pilgrims on board.

The group is among the first batch to return to Nigeria , of the 10,000 international pilgrims, who were airlifted to the holy land through several designated tour operators’ airlines.  

Before the commencement of departures from Jeddah, the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the 2011 Hajj and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar the Third, criticized the National Hajj Commission’s poor arrangements for feeding of pilgrims during the religious rites.

Scorecard

Addressing Hajj Amirs from all the participating Nigerian states, National Hajj Commission officials and Ulamas (the learned) at a post-Arafat meeting, Sultan Sa’ad said the recommendation that states should be allowed to feed their pilgrims would be looked into.  

He said the Commission would be compelled to refund to the states, the cost of feeding pilgrims, due to the tardiness of the arrangements made (in terms of quality and timing).

Voice of Nigeria correspondent in Jeddah report that some pilgrims were subjected to the hardship of buying unhygienic food from vendors, while some had to contend with filthy environments, despite warnings from Saudi Health authorities. At least 200 pilgrims from the North central state of Kaduna were reported to have been treated for diarrhoea.

The Sultan of Sokoto also criticised the commitment of seven Saudi companies for reneging on the feeding agreements contract they entered into with the Nigerian Hajj Commission. 27 companies had been screened for the feeding contract for three days.

Commendations

Adamawa, Lagos , Ogun and Taraba states were commended for providing good feeding arrangements for their pilgrims at Muna and Arafat. In particular, Lagos and Ogun states were noted for providing sufficient local meals for their contingents, as well as catering for the meals of other Nigerian pilgrims and those from international tour operators for the three days.

The transportation committee of the National Hajj Commission was specifically given a pass mark for adequate and prompt transport services to Nigerian pilgrims during the hajj period.

Knocks

Zamfara State got the knocks for poor hygiene and exposure of pilgrims to filth. Sultan Sa’ad directed the state’s Amirul Hajj to prepare a written explanation on the matter.

The leadership of Edo, Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa were not spared for ineptitude, as their pilgrims roamed the streets of Muna.

Increase in Deaths

Meanwhile, the number of deaths recorded among Nigerian pilgrims during the 2011 Hajj has hit twenty-six.

A spokesman of the Medical Team, Dr Salisu Bello said five more deaths were recorded before Arafat and one after Arafat, in addition to the initial twenty announced before the pre-Arafat meeting. He explained that majority of the pilgrims who died were between the ages of sixty and sixty-five, except for one eighty years old pilgrim.

Dr Bello said more deaths were averted by the quick intervention of the Medical Mission and Saudi authorities. A total of 12,945 pilgrims received medical attention, with four miscarriages also recorded during the 2011 Hajj.

More than 90,000 Nigerian Muslims were among the 3 million pilgrims that performed the 2011 Hajj rites, which formally ended on Wednesday, 9th of November.

Edited by Hajia Sani