President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the National Hajj Commission and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently account for all Nigerian pilgrims in the aftermath of last Thursday’s disaster at Mina.
The Presidential directive follows conflicting reports on the number Nigerians who died or suffered injuries in the catastrophe which claimed well over 700 lives. NAHCON claimed 54 pilgrims died, but there are reports of many pilgrims still missing.
“President Buhari is very concerned that days after the unfortunate incident, some Nigerian families are still grappling with painful uncertainty over the fate of their relatives who traveled to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj,”, said Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to President Buhari.
“The President expects the National Hajj Commission to work with the various state pilgrim boards, Islamic organisations and private travel agencies involved in Hajj operations to speedily provide a confirmed and verifiable report on the status of every Nigerian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia.
“President Buhari has also directed the Hajj Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to give all necessary assistance to Nigerians who are still receiving treatment for injuries suffered in Mina.
“He continues to pray that Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the dead, comfort bereaved families, heal the injured and bring all surviving Nigerian pilgrims safely home”.
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NAHCON and Nigerian embassy in Jeddah have truly performed abysmally in this tragic matter. While Iran, Pakistan and others were able to quickly keep a tab on their losses, Nigerian officials were at sea, unable to report on Nigerian losses. What a shame!