The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it will honour states that perform credibly during this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, said this while fielding questions from newsmen in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed spoke after attending a dinner organised by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj Affairs to mark the end of this year’s pilgrimage.
Mohammed said the aim was to appreciate and encourage those states that performed well and create healthy competition among them in the future.
He said the dinner was an annual event organised by Saudi Ministry to show appreciation to countries whose citizens performed the pilgrimage.
He said the Saudi authorities appreciated the fact that the success recorded was a collective effort.
Mohammed commended Saudi authorities for their steadfastness in organising a hitch-free exercise.
He said the government and people of Saudi Arabia deserved commendation for bringing in new ideas every year to improve the organisation of the pilgrimage.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a number of people were honoured at the occasion for their role in the enlightenment of the pilgrims.
Nigeria was represented by officials of NAHCON as well as Nigeria’s Charge d’Affairs to Saudi Arabia, Salisu Umar and the Consul-General in Jeddah, Muhammad Yunusa. (NAN)