Nigeria and Saudi Arabia may be heading for another diplomatic row over the seizure by the Saudi authorities of electronic wristbands introduced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the use of the Nigerian pilgrims.
Th wristbands were introduced by NAHCON to monitor each pilgrim’s movement and facilitate easy identification where the need arises.
Reports reaching us said that thousands of the items were seized at the airport in Madinnah by security officials and that all entreaties by Nigerian officials for release fell on deaf ears.
It was learnt that NAHCON was forced to quietly suspend the use of the wristbands, leading to a huge sums of money and time invested in the project being rendered useless.
Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Consulate-General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Muhammad Yunusa, vowed to launch a serious protest against the Saudi Arabian authorities to appropriate quarters.
Muhammad Yunusa, who spoke at the post-Arafat meeting, organized by NAHCON in Makkah, said that the action of Saudi authorities ran counter to the understanding reached by the two governments before the introduction of the wristbands.
He said that the embassy had in February informed the Saudi government of Nigeria’s plan to introduce the wristbands and this was followed up in July.
“This action is unfriendly, undiplomatic and we are going to protest against it.”
The diplomat urged state officials of pilgrims welfare agencies to caution their drivers against reckless driving, saying it was giving Nigeria a bad image.
Meanwhile, Nigerian pilgrims commenced the return journey from the Holy land today, Saturday, with the airlift of at least 966 Kogi and Kwara pilgrims from Jeddah, after the successful performance of the pilgrimage.
About 465 pilgrims were this morning airlifted from Jeddah in Fly Nas flight KNE7268, while 501 were airlifted in flight operated by the same airline with flight number KNE7200.
The 465 pilgrims on the first flight were from Kogi State and made up of 199 men and 266 women.
For the second flight, 251 men and 250 women from Kwara State were on the flight. [myad]
