Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s Hajj started returning to Nigeria at the weekend as 510 pilgrims from Sokoto State on Sunday departed the King Abdulaziz International Airport back to Nigeria after successfully performing the 2010 hajj.
Sahabi Gada, the Amirul Hajj for the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, that four of the pilgrims, accompanied by a doctor, were suffering from ill-health.
Mr. Gada commended Max Airline for making available its aircraft for the smooth transportation of the pilgrims. He expressed delight at the exemplary conduct exhibited by the pilgrims during the hajj and said the delegation was working round the clock to ensure the smooth return of the remaining pilgrims.
“We will do all that we can to ensure we meet the deadline given to us for the transportation of our pilgrims back home,” the head of the delegation said.
Mr Gada called for special prayers by the pilgrims and the citizens at home for God’s guidance to enable the delegation to succeed in its work.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III who is also the Head of the Federal Government delegation to the hajj told newsmen that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the operation went on smoothly. He said pilgrims would be brought to the airport only when the aircraft to convey them was on the ground as part of measures aimed at ensuring that pilgrims were not made to suffer while waiting for their departure.
The return comes amidst an advice from Lanre Badmus, Leader of Kwara pilgrims to this year’s hajj, that the official delegation’s tents be set up close to those of other Nigerian pilgrims. He said the practice where such tents, in Muna and Arafat, were cited far away from those of ordinary pilgrims pose difficulty in monitoring of the pilgrims. He said the tent to be used by the Amirul Hajj and his team must be placed in the centre of the other pilgrims’ tents to enable the team to attend to the problems being faced by the pilgrims.
“The present tent is far away from the pilgrims and the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the leader of the federal government delegation, is opposed to this arrangement and wants it abolished, “he said.
Mr Abubakar, however, urged pilgrims to fully cooperate with officials and conduct themselves in an orderly manner to ensure hitch-free operation.
The last flight of the operation is expected on December 16.
- 234next.com
