…thanks pilgrims for remembering his government, Nigeria in their prayers
Nigerian President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu has felicitated Nigerian pilgrims for successfully carrying out the most fundamental rites of the Hajj exercise, even as he thanked the pilgrims for using the medium to pray for stability, unity, growth and development of the country.
Tinubu in his congratulatory message to the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, urged Nigerian pilgrims to continue to remain good ambassadors of Nigeria by ensuring that they remain obedient and law abiding throughout the period of the Hajj rituals and their return to Nigeria.
The President, who spoke through the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Yahaya Lawal, expressed joy over an impressive way and manner Nigerian pilgrims comport themselves right from the beginning of the exercise, with an appeal to them to continue in the same spirit in the interest of Nigeria state and Islam as a religion.
He particularly applauded Nigerian pilgrims for using the medium to seek for divine guidance for his administration, and prayed Allah to answer their own prayers both generally and specifically.
Ambassador Lawal, who presented the President’s congratulatory message to the pilgrims, commended the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, for its diligence, resilience and total commitment which gave birth to the successful completion of the airlift of all pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and seamless coordination during the exercise despite unforseen challenges.
The President however sympathised with the families of those who passed on during the course of performing one of the fifth pillar of Islam, and prayed Allah to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss and grant the deceased Aljanat firdaus.
Tinubu wished the commission and the pilgrims a successful 2023 Hajj operations and prayed Allah to bring them back home safely.
Ambassador Yahaya Lawal who said that the president has been fully briefed about the commendable conduct of pilgrims in the holy land, enjoined them to maintain the conduct and remain obedient, law abiding till the end.
Meanwhile, the the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Hassan commended the pilgrims for their perseverance in the inadequate tents and poor feeding services they contended with on arrival at Muna on Monday.
Speaking during the tour of some states on the plain of Muna as Sallah visits and greetings, this evening (June 29, 2023), the NAHCON boss reminded the pilgrims that pilgrimage has always been a test and trial for anyone that embarks on it, hence the need for patience and perseverance, which he commended the pilgrims for exhibiting such qualities during the hardships they encountered from Monday on the plains of Muna.
Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan explained that hardships and discomfort cannot completely be ruled out on any Hajj exercise, but only mitigated, which he said NAHCON had all this while been steadfast and unwavering to ensure some relief for the pilgrims.
The Chairman had earlier said every Hajj operation is an experiment that throws up new challenges that would be reviewed, steps and measures taken to guard against reoccurrence.
Speaking during the tour of the States visited some pilgrims who complained about the poor services and other challenges, nonetheless commended NAHCON over the successful airlift of pilgrims to the holy land and prayed that the return journey would equally be a success.
Nigerian Consule-General in Jeddah, Board members of NAHCON, senior management staff of the Commission were on the entourage of the Ambassador and the NAHCON Chairman on the tour that took them to Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Borno, Lagos and Adamawa States.
It would be recalled that the NAHCON was on Tuesday (Arafah Day) organised a special prayer for the President Tinubu and his administration where scholars through committee of Ulama offerred fervent prayers for the nation in five different Nigerian local languages.
