Ambassador of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yahya Lawal, has described hajj pilgrims from Lagos State as some of the most disciplined during the ongoing hajj.
According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Lagos State Muslim Welfare Board, Taofeek Lawal, on Saturday, the ambassador disclosed this during a visit by a delegation to the Lagos tent in Mina.
The statement said the delegation included Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sudan, Bello Kazaure; the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikhrullah Hassan, and other top executives of the commission.
The statement quoted Lawal as saying, “The President requested that the team should visit the pilgrims and we are impressed with their exemplary conduct, which was a reflection of the effective and efficient works the Amir-ul-Hajj and other officials of the state government have put in place.”
Also, Hassan explained that the challenges faced by pilgrims were not peculiar to Nigerians.
He added, “We absolve Lagos State of any blame in respect of the challenges faced by the pilgrims over inadequate allocation of bed spaces and meals in Mina because neither NAHCON nor the state officials are to blame.
“While the hajj is about challenges and sacrifices, we apologise to the pilgrims for all the shortcomings and difficulties they have passed through.”
Also, the state Amir-ul-Hajj, Olanrewaju Elegushi, appealed to NAHCON to prevail on the Saudi Arabian authorities to handover the kitchen to each participating state, adding that they were in the best position to provide local delicacies for their pilgrims through reputable caterers during subsequent exercises.
