Inaugural airlift begins August 8
By Musa Adamu
Abuja
To ensure easy identification in case of any emergency or health challenges, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that every pilgrim would be issued an electronic detecting device to be worn on the wrists on arrival in the holy land.
Speaking during stakeholders’ conference at the weekend in Abuja, the chairman of the Commission, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, also debunked the rumour that pegged the cost of the device at N25, 000, saying it was actually N8, 000.
He said: “We call on the service providers to expedite their efforts and ensure that they deliver the devices in good time.
We however want to appeal to the pilgrims that should they find any fault with the device, they should be patient with us as it is with every pilot scheme, there is bound to be initial hiccups, but we are assuring that improvement will come as we continue with the project.”
On the banned substances, Muhammad reiterated that in addition to kola nuts, pilgrims were not expected to be caught with charms or talisman, propaganda materials such as political hand bills, t-shirts or any other inscription that suggest political activism.
He said any pilgrim caught in engaging in any of this activities may risk being deported outrightly or jailed for breaking their law.
“We call on the state Muslims pilgrims’ welfare boards to ensure that they adequately sensitise their pilgrims to avoid any regrettable incidence.”
He said Nigeria had not rested on its efforts at getting compensation for the families of the victims of tragedy that befallen pilgrims in the last exercise, adding that, hopefully, the beneficiaries would be compensated, this year.
Meanwhile, the inaugural airlift of the 2016 pilgrims to the holy land will commence on August 8, with Zamfara state pilgrims from Sokoto zone.
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who represented the chairman of the conference, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made this known at the conference.
