2016 Hajj: Buhari Urged To Seek Quota Increase For Nigeria

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), an NGO, on Tuesday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to appeal to the Saudi Arabian Government to increase Hajj quota for the country.

 

This is contained in a statement jointly issued in Abuja by the National Coordinator and Publicity Secretary of the group, Messrs Ibrahim Muhammed and Abubakar Mahmoud, respectively.
The statement noted that the visit of Buhari to Saudi Arabia provided an opportunity for him to plead for Hajj quota increment for the country because of its large number of Muslim population.
It said that in 2015, Indonesia Hajj quota was increased by 10,000 after Indonesia’s president pleaded with the then King Salman during their bilateral meeting.

“In the last three years, the number of Hajj seats allocation to Nigeria stands at 76,000 due to the 20 per cent cut necessitated by the Grand Mosque expansion project,’’ said the statement.

It also recalled that prior to the 20 per cent slash Nigeria’s annual allocation was about 92,000; which the group noted was grossly inadequate.

Within the same period, however, countries like Pakistan, India and Indonesia are allocated 94,000; 143,000 and 160,000, respectively. But as for Nigeria, a country with over 60 million Muslim population, got 76,000 Hajj seats,” the statement said.

It therefore urged the president to request for more Hajj seats for Nigeria as more than a million Nigerian Muslims compete for the 76,000 available slots allocated to the country yearly.
The statement observed that the reduction had made it difficult for those who have the capacity and ability to perform their religious obligation.
It suggested that seats that were not fully utilised by other nations could be given to Nigeria to ease the challenge of scarcity of Hajj seats.
It also urged Saudi Hajj Authorities to consider the request for increase in Hajj seats in view of the tremendous progress made by Nigeria in terms of compliance with Hajj rules.

 


(NAN)

NAHCON honours pilgrim for returning missing money

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Wednesday rewarded a pilgrim from Nasarawa State, Suleman Bello, for returning money belonging to an Afghanistan Pilgrim, Haji Mosa Gousdin.

The Pilgrim had returned 2,345 US Dollars (N466,655), 303 Saudi Riyals (N16,076) and 3,020 AFN (N9,370) to the Nassarawa State Pilgrim Welfare Board, which subsequently took the money to NAHCON.

Presenting the money to the owner through an official of the Afghanistan Hajj Ministry, Sayed Tahir Hashimi in Mecca, NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Mukhtar, said Bello would participate in next year’s hajj on the ticket of the commission.

“This is a reward for honesty and truthfulness. Bello is a worthy representative of Muslims community in Nigeria and Nigerians in General,’’ he said.

Mukhtar said the pilgrim had chosen to honour his religion and to project the image of Nigeria rather than to use the money for selfish personal interest.

“This is to prove to you that Nigerians are honest and truthful. We appreciate Bello’s gesture. This shows that he is a good Muslim and true Nigerian.’’

Receiving the money on behalf of the pilgrim, Hashimi thanked NAHCON for contacting Afghan’s officials in Mecca, who inturn, traced the owner of the money.

He appreciated the effort of both the pilgrim and NAHCON, adding, “May Allah reward Bello with Aljannah Firdausi.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Gousdin, who could not hide his happiness, said he would forever remember the good gesture of Nigerians.

(NAN)

See photo of Ogun State gov, Ibikunle Amosun in Mecca

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun joined other pilgrims in Minna, Saudi Arabia in preparation for Arafat rites as part of activities for 2015 hajj exercise.

The Governor, who arrived the camp at 2.15pm Saudi Arabia time was received amidst pomp and pageantry by pilgrims from the State when moving from tent to tent to greet the pilgrims.

Governor Amosun expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the pilgrims comport themselves since they arrived the holy land.

He also reminded them on the need to remember Nigeria and Ogun State in particular in prayers as they embark on spiritual activities.

While commenting on the provisions and logistics put in place by the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Senator Amosun commended the Dr. Ishaq Yusuf led board members for improvement in their planning and programmes toward the hajj exercise.

The Governor was accompanied by the House member representing Abeokuta South Constituency, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja, former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Architect ’Lekan Adegbite and former Chairman, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Comrade Rotimi Rahmon as well as Board Members of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

Photo Credit : Facebook/ Ibikunle Amosun

107 dead, over 230 injured in Mecca grand mosque as crane collapses

At least 107 people have lost their lives and more than 230 people injured after a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque – the largest in the world – that was filled with worshippers at the time. Emergency workers were quickly on the scene to deal with the high number of casualties.

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Image Credit : AFP

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The head of Saudi Arabia’s civil defence said strong winds and heavy rains had caused the collapse.

Currently preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, the Saudi City is expected to host hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world later this month, precisely 10 days time.

The collapse happened at 17:23 local time (14:23 GMT), said Director-General of the Saudi Civil Defence Authority, Lt Sulayman Bin-Abdullah al-Amr.

It happened at a time when many worshippers were there for Friday prayers.

The toll for the dead and injured, tweeted by the Civil Defence Authority (in Arabic), is on the rise.

Shortly before the crash, the city had been hit by unusually high levels of rainfall and winds of up to 83kph (50mph), Lt Amr said.

A video posted on YouTube, which could not be independently verified, appeared to record the moment the crane fell, with a loud crash heard in the background followed by panic and shouting.

Images circulating on Twitter showed the floor of the mosque littered with numerous mangled bodies and blood.

Lt Amr said an investigation was being carried out to assess the damage, and the “extent of the safety of these sites”.

Five Men Plan To Trek From Nigeria To Mecca For Buhari

A group of five married men have vowed to trek from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to show solidarity to the president elect General Muhammadu
Buhari and to thank Allah for winning the 2015 presidential elections. Speaking with newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, the five men-Mohammed
Inuwa, 45, Dahiru Aminu, 33, Abdullahi Usseini, 45, Abubakar Danjuma, 45, and Kabiru Saleh , 35, said that their decion to embark on the
trek to Saudi Arabai was informed by their deep love for the general.

Speaking on their behalf, Mohammed Inuwa said: “He has tried to be president for 12 years but Allah did not make it to be possible. We
believe he always won because he had the support of the majority. This time around Allah has given him the power and so we decided to trek to
Mecca by road to register our unflinching support to General Buhari” They said they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the mission
but “we pray Allah will protect and guide us because we are committed to show our appreciation to General Buhari.”

The men said they had consulted widely with families and friends and have made adequate preparations for the journey which they estimated will take them at least three months and will see them transverse countries of Chad, Sudan before reaching their destination in Mecca.

They said that said although they are in good health, they planned to consult a doctor and be declared medically fit before embarking on
the journey.

The men said that they hope to begin their trek on May 30, a day after the swearing-in of the incoming administration and asked
Nigerians to pray for them to succeed in their mission. They pledged to pray for the president elect Buhari and all the country in general for peace and prosperity to reign during his administration.

Creditsunnewsonline