Pulse.ng : Hajj 2024: Pilgrims laud NAHCON for 'topnotch' accomodations

By Fatima Dayyab

Nigerian pilgrims in the ongoing 2024 hajj excercise in Mecca, have lauded the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for providing them with 'topnotch' accomodations.

The pilgrims, while speaking to our correspondent in Madina, said comfort and focus was key to performing excellent Hajj excercise, where they explained that they would have no cause of thinking about the hygiene and other health issues that are likely to be witnessed resulting from dirty or inconvenient rooms.

One of the pilgrim, a sexagenarian, Hafsatu Saleh of Rano LGA in Kano State, expressed immense pleasure with the hospitality they received at Madina.

She described their accomodation as 'first class', adding that their toilets were always kept clean and available with toiletries.

"If i will be allowed to stay for even two months, I will be very happy. When i visited the Prophet's Tomb, I cried because of joy", she said.

Also, Alhaji Musa Bunkure, said he has never slept in such conducive environment and well furnished room.

"What surprised me was when some pilgrims left, the soft mats that they sat on were packed to the trash bin, that they were no longer useful, new ones will be spread,"he said.

He thanked NAHCON for their dedication to their welfare, while praying to God to give him the financial means to observe Hajj in subsequent years.

Also, Imam Idris, a pilgrim from Benue state said he has visited the holy land for Hajj for many times.

He however, said he never experienced comfort in their accomodations, as resulting from the hygiene and well furnished rooms.

"The acomodation here is far better than some of our residents at home. NAHCON has really done a great job, this shows how committed they are to our welfare,"Idris said

Also speaking, Ibrahim Idris Mahmood, the Coordinator of NAHCON in Madina, said they have gone far in the transportation of pilgrims from Mecca to Medina and vice versa.

He equally said the commission has transported about 39, 000 pilgrims to the holy land.

He noted that the successes was a result of NAHCON's critical planning and strategies.

Speaking on NAHCON's preparation which he said contributed immensely to their successes, he noted that even before airlifting, the commission has send its advance team comprising health personnel, and committee that were saddled with the responsibility of pilgrims acomodation.

The coordinator equally said NAHCON sent a committee in charge of feeding, a committee in charge of receiving the pilgrims from the airport and taking them to their accomodations.

He added that the committee also included those who were saddled with responsibility of organising the pilgrims on ensuring they spend the stipulated days in every location they visited and also a committee which provide any other assistance.

He urged the pilgrims to be obedient and cooperative to NAHCON officials and also law abiding to the laws, rules and regulations of the holy land.

"The pilgrims must be conscious of the fact that they are there to worship, and therefore should desist from activities not related to worship and be good ambassadors of Nigeria in the holy land,"he said.