The Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, on Monday, 21st March 2022 led a delegation to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria to finalize the crash compensation matters.
In a statement signed by Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, Head of Public Affairs to the commission reveal that the delegation comprised representatives of States Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, lawyers representing relatives of the 2015 crane crash victims and representatives of beneficiaries. Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, Director Consular and Legal Services in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also present representing his ministry.
Speaking during the occasion, NAHCON’s Chairman, Alhaji Hassan recognized the contribution of the Saudi embassy in Nigeria and Nigeria’s embassy in Saudi Arabia in resolving the compensation status. He also commended the leaders of the two countries for their unalloyed support to officials charged with the responsibility of discharging this job successfully.
It would be recalled that after the crane accident that occurred in the Makkah Grand Mosque on September 11th 2015, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered compensation be paid exclusively to relatives of those killed in the crash, to victims who sustained permanent impairments and to those victims that sustained lasting injuries from the accident. The grant was a personal gesture by the Saudi monarch to support victims of the accident.
At the handing over ceremony, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria, His Excellency, Faisal Bin Ibraheem Al-Ghamidy, honored legitimate beneficiaries of the compensation in the presence of NAHCON leadership Alhaji Kunle Hassan, accompanied by Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, Ambassador Akinremi, lawyers representing the beneficiaries and the state boards’ officials.
He advised beneficiaries to do what is right under Islamic shari’ah, especially to deceased’s’ dependents. As for those alive, the Ambassador advised them to be judicious in managing whatever grants they would receive. H.E Mr Faisal Al-Ghamidy commended Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, NAHCON and other stakeholders that contributed in the final resolution of the compensation. He showered praises on His Majesty, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his magnanimity to victims of the crash.
Similarly, lawyers of the victims commended NAHCON and Saudi embassy in Nigeria for doing a thorough and transparent job on behalf of the victims. They appreciated the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards for always consulting them on behalf of their clients. Most of all, the lawyers commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for taking the essential steps towards finalizing the compensation.