By Aminu Azare
I was taken aback by Governor Umar Ganduje’s wrongful blurt out against Nahcon, calling for probe of the noble organization over the (2022) Hajj exercise. I believe that honest witnesses to Nahcon’s performance last year should correct the Governor.
I was a pilgrim last year and so feel morally obliged to testify for Nahcon.
Initially, nobody even expected the Hajj exercise would take place last year for the Covid-19 issue.
So the usual preparation was done within months due to short notice from Saudi authorities! It seems the Governor did not take that into consideration before the wrongful blurt out.
Governor Ganduje did not complain that his pilgrims were not airlifted because more than 90% of his pilgrims were successfully airlifted to and from the holy land safely.
Instead of the Governor to give kudos to Nahcon for the actualisation of the Hajj 2022 within the limited time, His Excellency was rather complaining of the Airline swap he requested which was not granted by Nahcon.
The desires of all pilgrims are mainly comfortable accomodation; transportation, medical care and feeding.
At Madinah where Nahcon officially sees to all of these, success was achieved. Our accomodations were comfortable and close to MASJID NABAWIY.
Medical experts were stationed in those places; transportation from Jiddah/Makkah to Madinah and backward respectively, it was so good that no pilgrim was stranded; feeding was accomplished and pilgrims were conveyed to and from holy and historical sites.
Even the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mansur G. Abdulkarim had in the holy land visited Nahcon officials on duty full of pride and showering commendations.
Governor Ganduje should exonerate Nahcon of his claims and add his voice to ours calling on FGN/NASS to award NAHCON a medal of excellence for achieving so much in a short span.
ALHAJI AMINU AZARE
Dan Masanin Azare