The Lagos State government has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON to decentralise its medical team to the Holy Land.
The State which commended the Commission for the good administration of the 2023 Hajj operations believes whittling down the power from the central medical team will ensure optimal performance during the period.
Head of the Lagos State Hajj team, Prince Anofiu Elegushi made the statement to the journalists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the successful airlifting of all contingent of Lagos State for pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Prince Elegushi explained that the State through its pilgrim’s board has raised the bar in the administration of the Hajj exercise and would love to collaborate with other critical stakeholders for more effective deliveries.
He said, “So far so good we have been having a peaceful arrangement, although with little hitches, which is normal but so far we have been able to control the crowd and resolve other issues regarding the pilgrims that came up and after all, we have been able to lift over three thousand pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and for now, everything is okay for Lagos Pilgrims.”
“NAHCON has done well, but the area I will like to talk about is the area of monopoly, I think they should reduce the power of the operation, there are some that state can do better for example the area of medical, although NAHCON is always prepared, but looking at the number of people that came from Nigeria, their facilities may be overwhelmed.”
“If we can have medical from the houses where pilgrims reside, it would reduce pressure on major medical infrastructure, they should at least release some powers to the State, I am sure, things will go well if they can do that.”
Elegushi however reassured the pilgrims of better arrangements in the coming days.
Thanks to Governor
Deputy Lagos State Hajj team, Mr Abdullahi Jebe appreciated the Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ensuring that the right persons are positioned to carry out the Hajj operations for Lagos Pilgrims.
Jebe mentioned that the pilgrims of the last batch of Lagos State pilgrim for the 2023 holy pilgrimage have completed the visitation (Ziyarah) to some Islamic historical sites in the city of Madinah.
He said that the eleventh batch which consists of 171 pilgrims carried out the visitation between Thursday and Friday in fulfillment of the requirements for the performance of the spiritual exercise.
Historical sites
Some of the important sites visited by the pilgrims include the Raodoh (a specific prayer location for supplications in the Prophet Mosque and offering); Masjid Qubah (the first Mosque built on earth and where the first ever Jumat prayer was observed in the entire world) and Masjid Qiblataen (a Mosque with two Qiblas).
Hajj proper
Meanwhile, the 171 pilgrims on the last flight from Lagos have departed Madinah for Makkah to begin the Hajj rites proper.
They are expected to put on the Ihram clothes (two pairs of white towels for the males and a long gown for females) and declare their intention to perform Umrah at the Miqot.
On getting to Makkah, the pilgrims would proceed to the Masjid Al-Haram (Kaaba) to perform the Tawaf (circumambulation) and the Sae (Safa and Marwa) seven times.
Hajj al-Tamatt’u is the easiest way of performing Hajj. People who come to Saudi Arabia from other countries usually perform Hajj al-Tamatt’u. The Ihram they wear on or before Miqot is for Umrah first, after which they cut their hair and nails and change into their ordinary clothes.
On the eighth of Zul-Hijjah, they put on Ihram for Hajj at their residence in Makkah and perform the rites of Hajj. It is taken off after the throwing of the first pebbles at the Jamarat which is the day of sacrifice (Eid-ul-Kabir).
Dominica Nwabufo
