The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Saturday, expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its prompt response to the maltreatment of two Nigerian pilgrims by some of its officers at the Prince Muhammad Bn Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah.

The Chairman/CEO, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, praised the action of the Kingdom, which he described as exemplary and a demonstration of the importance the Kingdom attaches to the welfare of pilgrims, worldwide.

According to him, “The gesture deserves commendation as it doused whatever misgivings that could have arisen from the overzealous action of the security officers.

“We indeed appreciate their quick action especially the apology tendered by none less than the Deputy Governor of Medina and the Deputy Minister of Hajj, Madina branch, it shows the high pedestal in which Nigerians are held and more particularly, it is a testament of the Kingdom’s resolve to make all pilgrims feel at home in the Holy Land.”

In the same vein, the NAHCON Chairman applauded the Saudi Embassy in Abuja and Consulate in Kano for their unwavering commitment and dedication to the issuance of Hajj visas to Nigerian pilgrims which enabled the Commission to accommodate demands for visa.

The Saudi Embassy and Consulate have processed and issued over 66,354 Hajj vissa, since the beginning of airlift operation on July 30, 2017 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 460 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) pilgrims.

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