Nigeria has appealed to the Saudi authorities to increase Nigeria’s pilgrims’ quota, adding that in recent years the quota is inadequate.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alhaji Yahaya Lawal, made the appeal, at the meeting of the Organization Of Islamic Countries (OIC), in Jeddah said this is pertinent due to the increase in demand for Hajj seats each year from Nigerians.
The Ambassador called on the authorities to include Nigeria in the Makkah Router initiative, which at present seven countries are its beneficiary.
Alhaji Yahaya said “At present Nigeria is the fourth, or fifth country with the largest number of pilgrims that participate in Umrah and Hajj exercises in the Kingdom, year-in, year-out.
The Nigerian envoy further reiterated his earlier advice to Nigerian pilgrims to be good ambassadors of their country and religion by being law-abiding and respecting laid down rules and regulations for ease of interaction.
He enjoined pilgrims to make maximum use of Allah’s given opportunity to maximize their temporal and spiritual benefits of the pilgrimage.
