The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said Nigerian pilgrims will be moved to Makkah after five days stay in Madina.
The commission explained that this becomes necessary following the complaint of overcrowding of Nigerian pilgrims in the city of Madina.
The commission in a statement by its Deputy Director, Information and Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, Wednesday, noted that it came up with the new policy to allow pilgrims to stay in Madina before Arafat and to avert sanctions against the country.
NAHCON said the policy was adopted after wide consultations and exhaustive deliberation.
The statement read in part: “Moreover, it is a known fact that Nigerian pilgrims live in the exclusive Markaziyya area during their stay, a decision which has been overwhelmingly commended and for which the Commission never intended to compromise.
“However, if the policy must be sustained, then the number of days our pilgrims must stay in Madina had to be reduced.
“As it is well known that Hajj is fast changing with new development and realities if the Commission must achieve the objectives of making the 2023 Hajj seamless and comfortable for our pilgrims, it is important to synchronize the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land with the bed space available, so that the Commission won’t be penalized for airlifting more pilgrims into Madina than the available accommodation or be forced to take the pilgrims to another area which are well below the standard of the current Markaziyya.
“As tough a decision, as this may seem, we felt it is a necessary action we need to take so that we won’t be at the receiving end of Saudi laws, and at the same time, it was considered more utilitarian for Nigerian pilgrims to spend five days in Madina thereby allowing more pilgrims to travel to Madina in the first phase from where they would be moved to Makkah to continue with their Hajj rites than to delay their departure for wants of bed spaces in the Prophet’s city.
“We therefore crave the understanding and support of the pilgrims, Hajj officials, and indeed Stakeholders for the successful implementation of this policy. We should not give up the gains we have so far achieved.”
