The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has commended the Saudi authorities for dissipating uncommon energy and unmatched resources in the management of hajj and umrah affairs to the satisfaction of all and sundry.
The Chairman made the commendation at the 47th grand symposium on hajj, organised by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Port City of Jeddah.
Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, who was represented at the occasion by NAHCON Deputy Coordinator, Makkah, Alhaji Alidu Shutti, advised that the symposium be made an annual event in view of its importance and richness of its contents.
The symposium which was declared open by the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, with the theme “The Jurisprudence of Ease in Hajj” was organized among others, for capacity building in understanding, collaborating and unifying pilgrims in particular and the Muslim world in general. It also provided avenue to fashion out ways pilgrims would perform all pilgrimage rites with ease and relative comfort, in addition to harnessing knowledge, technological know-how, practicable actions, developments and new approach to a stress free performance of hajj rituals.
Papers presented discussed challenges in the areas of logistics, handling mammoth crowd of approximately three million people of different backgrounds, cultures, norms, values and characteristics and the movement of pilgrims once and at the same time which requires diligence, commitment, dedication and sacrifice, and the Saudi authorities have vowed to lead in the realisation of this noble cause, but with support and understanding of the various countries converging annually for this all-important religious rites.
Side attractions at the symposium included an exhibition by different body of experts in the hajj industry, technology and innovations.
Those in attendance included the President of the Commission for the two Holy Mosques, and the Chief Imam of Ka’aba, Shaykh Abdur Rahman Al-Sudais, Muftis from Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Indonesia. Others were heads of security, fefence and Mashã’ir Provinces.
Nigeria was represented at the occasion by the Nigeria’s Consule-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Bello Hussain Kazaure, while NAHCON delegates to the symposium were led by the Deputy Coordinator Makkah, Alhaji Alidu Shutti.
