The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilgrims

  • Anxiety as Saudi rejects 1,500 Nigerian pilgrims

    Anxiety as Saudi rejects 1,500 Nigerian pilgrims

    A diplomatic row is likely between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia over the rejection of some Nigerian women pilgrims.

    Yesterday, 159 would-be pilgrims from Katsina, Taraba and Oyo states were returned to Nigeria from Medina — Saudi Arabia’s second holiest city.

    The National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) has suspended the airlift of Nigerians for 48 hours, following the incident.

    The pilgrims were returned to the country because the Saudi authorities barred them from the pilgrimage.

    Pilgrimage to the Holy land is the fifth pillar of Islam.

    A Muslim must undertake the journey, at least once – if he is financially capable of doing so.

    The Senate and the House of Representatives have urged the President to intervene in the matter.

    Those returned are not part of the 1,000 Nigerian pilgrims, mostly women, already stranded in Jeddah.

    They were refused entry because they were not accompanied by their husbands or family guides.

    They were among the 500 would-be pilgrims airlifted by three airlines but who were prevented from entering.

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo has intervened in the brewing diplomatic row.

    NAHCON Head of Media Mana Uba said last night that the suspension of flights became necessary to allow the Federal Government and Saudi Arabia resolve the impasse through the ongoing diplomatic consultations.

    Uba said: “We are suspending flights to Saudi Arabia for the next 48 hours to enable the Federal Government consult with the Saudi authorities.

    “There will be no airlift of pilgrims. But we are positive that the discussion will be far-reaching.”

    Uba also confirmed that 159 pilgrims had been brought back to Nigeria after the Saudi authorities refused them entry for not having Muharrams (male guardians).

    He gave the breakdown of the pilgrims as follows: Katsina (84); Taraba (62); and Oyo (13).

    He said: “These pilgrims arrived in Medina on Wednesday but they were disallowed from entering the city because of the same factor of Muharrams (male guardians).

    “In order not to leave them stranded at the airport, we decided to bring the pilgrims back to Nigeria pending the time we will resolve the issue.”

    A government source said: “The Vice-President is already leading talks with Saudi government in Riyadh and through the Embassy in Nigeria.

    “We hope that in the next 48 to 72 hours, the two countries will reach amicable resolution on the areas of disagreement.”

    The source added: “The Federal Government is seeking a waiver, although the Saudi authorities appear not ready to bend their regulations.

    “But in diplomacy, nothing is impossible. We are optimistic that this matter is resolvable.”

    The NAHCON spokesman explained that the women were not deported.

    He said if they were deported, their passports would have been stamped and they will not be able to return to Saudi Arabia in the next five years.

    He could not, however, ascertain if the returnees would still be able to observe the pilgrimage before the end of the operations.

    He said: “They were not deported. What happened was that we had an experience in one of our destinations in Saudi Arabia; Medina. For your information, we also land in Jeddah. Our pilgrims arrived there and until this morning (yesterday), they were never detained. None of them was detained in Medina.

    “What happened was that Medina is a very small airport just like our local airport here without enough facilities. So when they got there, NAHCON decided not to leave anybody there because they could not be cleared by the airport authorities and we decided to return them to the country and they were brought with the same aircraft that took them to the country.

    “The reason is that if they were to be deported, they enter Saudi Arabia in the next five years. So, the commission knowing well that there was inadequate facilities, decided to bring them back, pending when the issue would be resolved between the two countries.

    “Yes, they are all women. The reason is because they didn’t have a guide like a husband or a blood relation. So, if you are to travel for a pilgrimage like this, you need to go with a guardian and the Saudi authorities are saying these 159 pilgrims had no guides.

    “They were from three different states with three different aircraft that took them there. There were pilgrims from Oyo (13) taken there by Medview Airline about 62 from Taraba State taken by Max Air and another 84 from Katsina who also travelled on Max Air.

  • Senate seeks FG’s intervention over detained pilgrims

    Senate seeks FG’s intervention over detained pilgrims

    The Senate on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to explore necessary diplomatic means to ensure that over 1,000 Nigerian women pilgrims being prevented from entering Jedda perform this year’s hajj.

    This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Refusal of the Saudi Arabian authorities to grant entry to over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims.”

    The Senators unanimously urged the Federal Government to take all necessary steps and prevail on the Saudi authorities to grant the pilgrims entry to perform their religious obligation.”

    Emirs have already begun consultation on the next line of action following the refusal of Saudi Arabian authorities to allow the women pilgrims to enter Jedda.

    The motion was sponsored by Sen. Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi Central).

    Senate President David Mark noted that from the efforts made, it is clear that only the direct intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan can save the situation.

    He said: “We should ask the President to talk to the Saudi King. The Foreign Affairs Ministry officials have done all they can.

    “Let’s see that pilgrims perform their pilgrimage since they have gone thus far.”

    In his lead debate, Bagudu urged the Senate to note that starting from July 2012 that over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims from various states of the federation who arrived Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj were denied entry upon arrival at the airport in Jedda and Medina.

    He observed that Hajj is mandatory upon all Muslims who can afford it, at least once in their lifetime.

    He said it was in this respect that the pilgrims applied for and obtained visa to Saudi.

    He informed the Senate that all the requirements for visa and entry into Saudi Arabia had been met by the pilgrims and were still denied entry.

    He further noted that the Sultan of Sokoto who is the Amiral Hajj, Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi and Minister of Foreign Affairs have all intervened but to no avail.

    In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) bemoaned intentional racism against Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.

    He lamented that inhuman treatment and discrimination against Africans especially Nigerians has been on the increase in the Islamic holy land.

     

  • 3,000 FCT pilgrims head for Saudi Arabia

    Three thousand pilgrims in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. They boarded Kabo and Max airlines.

    Of the pilgrims, over 530 went through screening at the permanent camp and were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the mass transit buses provided by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

    The Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Surajo Ado Faskari, who addressed reporters at the permanent camp, said the exercise would be concluded on October 4.

  • Emirs begin consultations over stranded 700 pilgrims

    Emirs begin consultations over stranded 700 pilgrims

    •Reps protest

    •NAHCON: No suspension of Hajj

     

    EMIRS have begun consultations on the next line of action following the refusal of Saudi Arabian government to allow 700 women pilgrims into Jeddah.

    Also, some Muslim groups are mounting pressure on Emirs and some leaders of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for a boycott of this year’s Hajj.

    The Saudi authorities had on Sunday prevented the 700 pilgrim from Jigawa and Sokoto states, from entering the country because they do not have male companions.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Emirs in the North have started consultations on the next line of action. These pilgrims are still stranded in the open place at the airport in Jeddah with cold.

    “The Saudi government used to do this to Iranian pilgrims. Now, they have turned against Nigerian pilgrims.

    “Although the issue is being addressed at diplomatic level, the Saudi government has remained unyielding.

    “These Emirs are already under pressure from some Muslim groups to prevail on the Federal Government to allow Nigerian pilgrims to boycott this year’s Hajj.

    “But the Sultan of Sokoto has been appealing for calm so that the issue can be resolved peacefully.”

    A senior Emir, who spoke in confidence, described the maltreatment of the pilgrims as “unacceptable and absolutely humiliating.”

    He said: “Treating these innocent Muslim women as common criminals under degrading conditions at detention centres is an act of hostility least expected of a host country like Saudi Arabia.

    The Emir said: “We have no knowledge of any law by the Saudi Authorities, which say that female pilgrims must be accompanied by their husband or male relatives. Our women have never been subjected to this legal requirement before.

    “In fact, if such law ever existed, the Saudi Arabian authorities have never drawn the attention of Nigerian pilgrims’ authorities to this regulation.

    “Introducing such tough regulation when the female pilgrims are already in Saudi land is unjust and unfriendly. It is also disturbing that this requirement is only being imposed on Nigerians at the 11th hour. Is this discriminatory treatment fair or just?

    The House of Representatives yesterday protested the detention of the female pilgrims.

    According to the lawmakers, the introduction of new policies without prior knowledge or notice was questionable and a sign of total disregard for Nigeria, as a country by Saudi authorities.

    The lawmakers questioned the essence of valid visa obtained by the pilgrims (especially those aged 40 and below) who were denied entry for not having their male partners (Muharam) with them.

    Deputy Minority Leader Kawu Abdulrahman (ANPP, Kano), who under a point of order lamented the plight of the pilgrims, said the victims were not notified of the new rule.

    Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, regretted the incidence but said the Committee had intervened.

    According to her, the understanding between the two countries had allowed direct flight into Medina, “Nigeria naturally feel offended but the issue is under control as some of the women are being allowed to go in,” she added..

    Chairman of the Committee on the Millennium Development Goals, Alhassan Ado Garba (PDP, Kano) however critised the said development saying that as at yesterday, many of the affected pilgrims were still not attended to.

    “The last call I made to one of my sisters called Hajara revealed their pathetic condition. Hajara is sick and could not access any form of medication in the last 48 hours. Though, they allowed my mother to go in but she could not leave her children there.

    “I am not sure the situation is under the control of the government because I also called our Ambassador to Saudi about the matter,” Garba lamented.

    The House resolved to direct the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to urgently wade into the matter, with a view to ensuring that the pilgrims are allowed to perform the Hajj.

    The Speaker Aminu Tambuwal however, urged continued interface between the Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view of briefing the House tomorrow.

    NAHCON yesterday said it has not suspended this year’s Hajj operation because of the maltreatment of 700 pilgrims by Saudi authorities.

    The commission also confirmed the airlift of 23,000 pilgrims so far.

    Its spokesman Alhaji Mana Uba, who spoke with our correspondent, said the issue is being addressed diplomatically.

    Uba said: “We have not suspended Hajj operation because of the challenge being faced by some of our female pilgrims in Jeddah. We are also not contemplating a boycott of this year’s Hajj.

    “As I am talking to you, we have airlifted more than 23,000 pilgrims and the women constitute about 45 per cent.

    The spokesman gave insight into how the female pilgrims became stranded.

    He added: Actually, we are trying very hard to resolve the matter through diplomatic means. The challenge arose from the screening in Jeddah by Saudi authorities.

    “These female pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia with their Muharrams (male guardians) but the authorities separated them from their male counterparts. They created two rows separately for men and women.

    “Coincidentally, the men were cleared before the women only for the authorities to allege that the women have no guardians.

    “Our consulate in Jeddah has stepped into the issue. We hope that within the next few days, we would be able to resolve it.”

     

  • Seminar for Ogun Muslim pilgrims

    The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will on Thursday hold a seminar/induction for intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
    Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, addressed reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, on the preparation for the religious exercise.
    He said the seminar would hold at the state secretariat’s mosque in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, at 10am.
    Rasheed said the event would include presentations by eminent scholars and experts to guide the intending pilgrims on the rules and regulations before and during the exercise.
    He said: “This will be the final seminar/induction to be organised for the 1,550 intending pilgrims from the state. The programme will also serve as an avenue for the pilgrims to collect essential travel documents and information on their movement to Saudi Arabia.”
    While pledging that no stone would be left unturned by the Board as regards the welfare of the pilgrims, Rasheed said airlift of pilgrims would commence before the end of the month as all travel plans were nearing completion with the National Hajj Commission Headquarters, Abuja.