As President Muhammadu Buhari recently disbanded federal delegation to the Saudi Arabia for the purpose of annual Muslim hajj rites, some Muslim leaders have volunteered to carry out an oversight over the Ad-hoc committees of government officials established by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON , to cater for the general welfare of Nigeria pilgrims.
The volunteers, led the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar II, have already been accepted by President Buhari. The Sultan is being represented by a committee of Emirs under the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sunusi 11.
A statement by senior special assistant to President Buhari, on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said that the volunteers have nothing to do with the directive by the President that the Federal Government Delegation for the 2015 Hajj exercise be suspended in line with the cost-saving measures of his administration.
Garba Shehu said that in accepting the voluntary offer of service by the Muslim leaders, the President made it clear that there will be no government funds involved in the mission.
“Government will also not name any members into the Emir’s delegation.”
The Spokesman of the President assured that all measures have been taken to ensure that the well-being of Nigerians on the holy pilgrimage is well managed by the various ad-hoc committees on medical, accommodation, transport, logistics, information and publicity, aviation and tour operators as well as security that generally assist the Commission in ensuring hitch-free Hajj operation.
“The President commended the Emir for adding this responsibility to his own personal Hajj plans.” [myad]
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