The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan and Amirul Hajj of Lagos State, Prince Anofiu Elegushi have led thousands of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for special prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Government and Nigeria.
The duo at various camps on the plains of Arafah were joined by clerics during the national prayer.
They prayed for peace, tranquility, progress and development of Nigeria.
They beseeched Allah to guide President Tinubu in his decision making.
The prayers led by the Committee of Ulama.
The clerics prayed for the country to overcome all trying moments, in security, political and socio-economic spheres.
The National prayers were offered in at least five different Nigerian languages, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, and Kanuri.
The Ulama also commended NAHCON leadership in ensuring a hitch-free, smooth and successful Hajj operation.
Alhaji Hassan lauded the Presidential support to the commission in executing its mandate and also thanked the Ulama for their support and understanding.
He said the commission has taken drastic measures to resolve the shortage of tents and feeding challenges encountered in Mina.
On Wednesday, Alhaji Hassan inspected the 10,000 capacity tents provided by the Saudi government for some of the stranded pilgrims.
In Lagos State tent, the state’s Amirul Hajj, Prince Anofiu Elegushi led other state functionaries including the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kazeem Alogba, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Alhaji Abdullah Jebe; Board Chairman, Alhaji Shakirudeen AbdulGafar, Secretary, Saheed Onipede, board member, Prof AbdulKabir Paramole and thousands of others to pray for the nation and Lagos State.
Led by erudite clerics and Islamic scholars, the pilgrims prayed to Allah to guide President Tinubu in leading the country with fear of God.
They also prayed that God should help the President in selecting the right people into the Federal Executive Council (FEC), parastatals and agencies of government.
They also prayed for the success of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Prince Elegushi congratulated the pilgrims. He enjoined them not to take the lifetime opportunity for granted but to uphold the ethics and qualities expected of their new status at all times.
Lectures on the significance of Arafat were delivered by two Islamic Scholars, Imam AbdulLateef Bolajoko and Sheikh Uthman Sanu Shehu both in English and Yoruba languages.
However, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said 1,845,045 Muslims across the world officially performed Hajj this year.
This is below the 2.4 million that performed the Hajj rites in 2019, a year before COVID-19 struck and prevented full participation of pilgrims worldwide.
The 1,845,045 worshippers, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, said came from 150 countries.
Al-Rabiah expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for helping to provide the best possible services to visitors, and the efforts of more than 40 government entities and other private sector companies.
Al-Rabiah said the ministry had started its preparation for Hajj at the conclusion of last year’s event.
He added that the use technology helped in providing better services for pilgrims.”
Many had expected the figure of this year’s exercise to outnumber the 2019 edition and be a record-breaking since pilgrimage was returning to full capacity for the first time since the global pandemic.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims are expected to return to Makkah for Tawaf Ifada which the final stage of the Hajj rites.
