The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 Hajj

  • 280 Nigerians died, 43 missing in 2015 Hajj

    … FG receives 2015 Hajj report

    The Chairman Board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Barr. Abdullahi Mohammed, on Wednesday disclosed that Nigeria recorded a total of 280 deaths from the crane incident at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on September 11 and the September 24 stampede in Mina.

    According to him, a total of 43 Nigerians are considered missing because their status has not been ascertained.

    Mohammed made the remark while submitting the report on the 2015 Hajj to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal, in Abuja.

    A statement issued by the Director (Press) in the office of the SGF, Bolaji Adebiyi, Mohammed, noted that the 2015 Hajj was the most eventful in the history of Hajj Operations in Nigeria due to the two tragic events.

    He used the occasion of the report submission to once again, condole President Muhammadu Buhari, families of victims and Nigerians on the loss of lives.

    He assured that the report submitted contained observations and recommendations that will ensure more successes during future Hajj Exercises.

    While a total of 75,081 Nigerian Pilgrims participated in the 2015 Hajj Exercise, both the outbound and inbound flights, the statement said, were concluded well ahead of schedule.

     

     

  • Hajj: Gombe declares five missing

    Five pilgrims from Gombe State have been declared missing in Saudi Arabia.

    The Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Usman Gurama, told journalists in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday that the pilgrims have not been located since Thursday.

    He, however, said it had not been confirmed if they were among victims of Thursday’s stampede where over 700 pilgrims died.

    Gurama confirmed that seven pilgrims from the state were injured in the stampede and were responding to treatment.

    Meanwhile, the state Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, on Saturday gave the state pilgrims $585,300 (about N32.7 million) as Sallah gift.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that each of the pilgrims received 300 Saudi Riyals (N16, 800) from the governor’s largesse.

    Addressing the pilgrims shortly after presenting the gift, Dankwambo urged them to pray for President Muhammad Buhari to enable him deliver the dividends of democracy.

    He commended the state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and the Amirul Hajj team for doing a good job.

  • Nigerian pilgrims warned against illegal movement in Saudi Arabia

    Nigerian pilgrims warned against illegal movement in Saudi Arabia

    Nigerians on Holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, particularly women have been warned against illegal movement in Madina and Makkah.

    Chairman of the Preachers Team from Kaduna State, Malam Mukaddas Zaria gave the warning in Madina while addressing pilgrims on their conduct in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night.

    He said, report reaching officials had it that pilgrims, particularly female allow strange men, most of whom are illegal residents of Saudi to lead them around the two cities.

    According to him; “in the name of going to install gold or silver plated teeth, some of our pilgrims follow strange men around. And when they get their unlawful men touch their bodies in the process of putting the golden teeth for them.

    “Besides, installation of gold or silver plated teeth is mostly done to show people at home that you have gone for Hajj. Is it not better for you to perform Hajj without showing off? He queried.

    He however advised that, henceforth, any female pilgrim who desires installation of gold or silver plated teeth should look for her state official guide, particularly those who understand Arabic Language to accompany her to the dental clinic.

    “If you go on such journey alone, and you allow yourself to be molested by bad elements, you are as good as someone who deliberately commits sin in the Holy Land, those whom the Prophet had cursed. May Allah guide us against such,” he prayed.

    He however urged the pilgrims in general to maximise their opportunity of being in the Holy Land by praising God and asking for forgiveness at all times.

    According to him, pilgrims are not in the Holy Land for tourism; therefore, they must take advantage of their presence in Saudi Arabia to pray at the Prophet Mosque in Madina and Holy Kaaba in Makkah.

    “The Prophet, may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said whoever observes 40 prayers in his Mosque in Madina, he will ask for forgiveness for the person on the day of judgment,” Mukadas stressed.

  • Nigeria airlifts 18,909 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Saturday said it had airlifted 18,909 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 pilgrimage.

    About 76,000 intending pilgrims from the 36 states and FCT are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    The Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the airlift had been hitch free since it began on Aug. 23.

    He said the commission had so far recorded 49 flights of pilgrims mostly from Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Zamfara and Kogi.

    The director also said most of the pilgrims were airlifted direct to Medina, where they were expected to spend seven days before proceeding to Mecca, while others were transported to Jedda.

    “Buses are readily available at Jedda International Airport to transport pilgrims to Medina.

    “Those airlifted to medina on Aug. 23, will move to Mecca on Aug. 29.’’

    Mana said the airlift would be concluded on Sept. 15, adding, “ no pilgrim will be left behind.

  • Hajj: Buhari accepts Muslim leaders’ offer of service

    Hajj: Buhari accepts Muslim leaders’ offer of service

    President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the voluntary offer of service to 2015 Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia by the leadership of the Muslim community under the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

    The president noted that the Muslim community would partner with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s Ad-hoc Committees to cater for the general welfare of pilgrims for the duration of the pilgrimage.

    The Sultan is represented by a committee of Emirs under the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi II.

    The statement said the president also noted that the offer did not contradict his directive that Federal Government’s Delegation for the 2015 Hajj be suspended in line with the cost-saving measures of his administration.

    “In accepting this voluntary offer of service, the President made it clear that there will be no government funds involved in the mission by the respected Emir.

    “Government will also not name any members into the Emir’s delegation

    “The President assured that all measures had been taken to ensure that the well-being of Nigerians on the holy pilgrimage is well managed by the various ad-hoc committees.’’

    It named the committees as medical, accommodation, transport, logistics, information and publicity, aviation, tour operators and security.

    “They are generally to assist the Commission in ensuring hitch-free Hajj operation.’’

    The statement quoted the President as commending the Emir for adding this responsibility to his own personal Hajj plans.

  • 2015 Hajj: Lagos denies sponsoring pilgrims

    2015 Hajj: Lagos denies sponsoring pilgrims

    Lagos State Government on Tuesday denied sponsorship of pilgrims for the 2015 hajj as being speculated in some media, even as the Amirul Hajj restated the state’s readiness to conduct a hitch free hajj.

    Reacting to publications in some dailies that some pilgrimage forms allocated to key officials of the state government have been hijacked, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on 2015 Hajj, AbdulLateef Abdul Hakeem, in a statement said the State government does not sponsor pilgrims to the holy land and that the State government is only interested in making sure the State pilgrims are well taken care of.

    “I wish to inform the general public that Lagos State has not sponsored or intend to sponsor any pilgrim for the 2015 hajj operations, what we were mandated to do  is to coordinate the affairs of all intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj, ” he said.

    The Amirul Hajj added that the State involvement as a responsive and responsible government is limited to medical, general welfare. He said, “we are giving support by providing Welfare personnel, Medical officials and Clerics to guide them and ensure that they remain good ambassadors”.

    “Lagos State Government recognizes the fact that pilgrimage is a private affair of individuals but the primary essence of governance is to ensure the welfare of the people within and outside the State so that they remain law abiding,” he said.

    He therefore urged all intending pilgrims to expect hitch free hajj operations and be good ambassadors of the state.

     

  • 2015 Hajj: IGP orders tight security for commission

    2015 Hajj: IGP orders tight security for commission

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has ordered a tight security for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) during the transportation of pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj operations.

    A statement signed by the Force Spokesman, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Wednesday, said that Arase gave the order when the commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, paid him a courtesy visit.

    The statement said Mohammed expressed confidence in the ability of the police to provide adequate security for the commission and the thanked IGP for the assistance it had got, so far.