The Lagos State Amir-ul-Hajj to this year’s Hajj, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, has absolved the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on the challenges pilgrims at Muna and Arafat.
At a briefing organized by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on the 2023 Hajj operations, at Al Dera Hotel, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Elegushi said Saudi Arabian government should be blamed for not treating pilgrims the way guests of Allah should be treated.
According to him, the Saudi Arabian authorities failed to make adequate provision for bed spaces commensurate with the number of pilgrims that participated in the exercise this year.
On the issue of feeding, he suggested that the respective states should be allowed to engage their own caterers to provide local delicacies for their pilgrims instead of giving the sole rights to the Arabs.
He also appealed to NAHCON to seek working permits for medical personnel brought by the states to be able to provide first aid for pilgrims with medical challenges.
He noted that this would complement NAHCON’s efforts and reduce pressures being experienced by the personnel in its clinics.
Elegushi urged NAHCON to reduce its autonomy and relinquish some rights to the States.
“NAHCON should trust the states to deliver on some activities. They should trust the states to handle things, entrust certain activities to us and guide us”, he said.
The Amir-ul-Hajj announced that the pilgrims would start their return journey back home on Friday (July 7) with a ‘special flight’ expected to airlift all the elderly and those with medical challenges.
He added that the airlifting exercise would run through July 8, 9, 10. The last batch, he said, will be July 22 when the officials would be airlifted.
He expressed the hope that having informed the pilgrims about the rules on luggage, the pilgrims would stick to the 32kg allowed by the airline for main luggage and desist from carrying water or any liquid item in their bags.
He said their ZamZam water had already been transported to Nigeria.
Speaking on future plans, Elegushi said that with effect from next year, the Board would go digital on the sales of Hajj forms.
He said,
“As from next year, the purchase of Hajj form, payment for Hajj fare and all processes would be done online in order to reduce paper work and time”.
He also added that there would be improvement in accommodation and feeding for the pilgrims.
He thanked Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support which is immeasurable to the success of the exercise.
He also thanked the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic matters, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Lolade Aina; Board Chairman, Imam Shakiru Ayinde Gafar; Board members; Secretary and members of staff for their support and cooperation.
He extended his gratitude to the entire pilgrims for following instructions, conducting themselves in a proper manner and being good ambassadors of the state while in the holy land, saying that their conduct prompted the Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia to declare the state’s pilgrims as the “Most Disciplined.”
