President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerian pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to remain calm, saying the spirit of Hajj is about patience and sacrifice amid difficulties.
The president’s message was conveyed to the pilgrims by the Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yahaya Lawal during his visitation to the pilgrims tents in Muna Thursday’s night.
The Nigerian envoy who was accompanied by his counterpart to Republic of Sudan, Ambassador Safiu Olaniyan, chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, his commissioners and top management staff of NAHCON, urged the Nigerian pilgrims to continue being good ambassadors of their country while in the Holy Land, saying the President is not unaware of the challenges and difficulties being experienced in the course of their pilgrimage.
President Tinubu also advised the pilgrims that, instead of grumbling about their challenges, they should focus on the significance of the spiritual journey to the Holy Land and as well concentrate on praying for Nigeria, saying the country is in need of their prayers to overcome its challenges.
“The President has been briefed of your good conduct so far and he wants you to continue representing Nigeria well in the Holy Land. You should also remember to put Nigeria in your prayers, we all know the challenges our country is facing and it is important you use this special opportunity to pray specially for Nigeria’s progress, peace, stability and wellbeing of Nigerians.
“We count on your support and would like to thank the chairman of NAHCON for providing the right leadership. Mr chairman, please continue the good work you are doing until all the pilgrims return back home safely,” Lawal said.
Earlier, the chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan said the purpose of the visitation, which has become routine yearly exercise, is to interact with the pilgrims and get first hand impressions of their Hajj experience while at the Holy Sites particularly in Muna, Arafat and Muzdalifah and Hajj operations in general.
He commended the pilgrims for their perseverance on the inadequacy of tents and poor feeding services rendered to them in Muna, reminding the pilgrims that pilgrimage has always been a test and trial of faith for anyone embarking on the religious rituals.
Hassan said the hardship and unpleasantries experienced at the holy sites can only be mitigated but not completely limited out of any Hajj exercise, but saying steps and measures are to be taken to guard against reoccurrence.
He told the pilgrims that NAHCON was not in any way responsible for shortage of tents and poor feeding they experienced at the Masha’er, saying the Saudi’s company of Mutawwif should bear the blame.
In some of the tents visited, the state pilgrims welfare officials and pilgrims themselves used the opportunity to voicout their frustration and urged the leadership of NAHCON to tackle issues of feeding and inadequacy of tents and bed spaces at Masha’er with Saudi Arabian government, saying Nigerians should be allowed to prepare their pilgrims’ meal while in holy sites.
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