With the on-going diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the detention of almost 1,000 female pilgrims and deportation of 171 females for coming to Hajj without male companions, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has temporarily suspended all Hajj flights for the next 48 hours.

This was announced in a statement on Thursday, signed by Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, despite the optimism expressed by the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Nigeria.

The ambassador, Mr. Khaled Abdrabuh, had earlier stated that the controversy over the detention of 908 female Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and the deportation of some will be resolved later today.

According to the statement, the Hajj Commission claimed it has been “compelled to temporarily suspend all Hajj flights for the next 48 hours”, “following the unprecedented and worrisome development of detaining over 1000 female pilgrims from Nigeria at the King Abdulazeez International Airport Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Ibn azeez International Airport Madinah.”

The Commission claimed it is taking this step after wide consultation with all stakeholders.

“This is to enable the Commission appraise the situation critically with the view to surmount all the challenges being faced” the statement added.

The Hajj Commission urged “all intending pilgrims to remain calm as all hands are on deck to resolve the issue and hajj flights will resume once resolved.”

It also gave the assurance that “all pilgrims that Nigerian carriers appointed for the 2012 Hajj Airlift have sufficient capacity to airlift the remaining 60,000 pilgrims well ahead of the closure of Jeddah airport on 20th October, 2012.”

The National Hajj Commission, had earlier stated that 908 female Nigerian pilgrims were refused entry into Saudi Arabia, alleging that they breached the escort rules for female pilgrims under Saudi law.

The law of the Islamic nation stipulates that any female pilgrim that is not over 40years old must be accompanied by a male who should either be her husband, brother or father.

The Federal Government on Wednesday gave the Saudi Arabian government 24 hours to resolve the issue as instructed by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, after he summoned the Arabian envoy to his office.

Close to 100,000 Nigerians are estimated to partake in the Hajj which is one of the pillars of Islam,

More than two million Muslims from around the world are due to converge on Mecca for this year’s Hajj, which is set to culminate over a four-day period between 24-29 October.




source: http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/27/hajj-commission-suspends-all-flights-to-mecca/

Is that our female pilgrims didnt know they were supposed to have male companions for the trip? They think it's our country where you get a national award for lawlessness. I'm happy they got the treatment they deserve . Reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins,some were prepared,some were not

This is just ridiculous!

I'm sure the Saudi government didn't come up with this escort rule over night.

We can't keep to rules as simple as this. What kind of pple are we in this country?

The Hajj Commission must be held responsible for bringing shame and ridicule to the country and the pilgrims involved.

what is wrong 2 saud arabia,if female and male dey nt get mrng 2 go 2gether dat mean dey suspend d trip.Dat it's robish.

I learnt on NTA yesternight that another 510 will be back by 9:30 pm yesterday, one of them is a man whose wife was among the women who were deported and since they won't allow him to be the Muharram, he decides to follow his wife. If it happens to be another courtry man people will say Nigeria men cannot do that o jee. That woman who is the chairperson of house committee on foreign affairs said they'll send plane to pick the remaining women if they didn't resolve it earlier so that they won't spend long days in detention. I wish they settle it soon sha.

Nigeria for you. ALways reacting when something bad happens.

Every year these so called pilgrims are jailed, stampeded, kicked out of Arabia, etc., and yet, these Nig.ger, I mean Nigerian (Wannabe) muslims cant wait to enter a country where there's light, roads, organization, and relative stabiity.

Funny enough, the A-rabs and their region are too good for the black idiots, henceforth the disregard for them.

Instead of thinking about how to develop Zamfara and Bauchi, off they go.


Fools

amosy007: The Federal Government on Wednesday gave the Saudi Arabian government 24 hours to resolve the issue as instructed by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, after he summoned the Arabian envoy to his office.

Summoned sounds like order or something expecially when it's Nigerian reporter that is speaking, maybe it should be "when they met" IMO oooo

Women still needing male escorts to go somewhere...in this day and age?

Heaven save us from chauvinistic pigs.

When will Nigerians learn? When? When??

@Post

I read there is a Nigerian man who had to come back when they won't let him be his wife's companion for the Hajj. So that tells me there is more to this than meets the eye. I think Nigerians should save themselves the stress and not bother going to saudi arabia or Israel again. These middle easterners as well as oyibos and asians are very racist and the sooner our people realize that, the better. Maybe, when more and more Nigerians in Nigeria travel out for leisure or religious obligations and experience several instances of racism, Nigerians will stop 'worshipping' and doing boy-boy to non black foreigners who live in Nigeria.

browncool: When will Nigerians learn? When? When??

Most Nigerians will never learn so let them keep suffering while they get treated like scum everywhere they go. The irony of it all is that the same Nigerians will treat middle easterners, asians, and oyibos residing in Nigeria better than they will treat a fellow Nigerian who is not from their ethnic group. Let Nigerians keep suffering. Na dem sabi.

I think the issue is political.

i'm sure this cant be the first time nigerian [or any] pilgrims will be denied access to Mecca in a particular year.

Why is the matter escalating like this- is it the media or another thing.

while its indeed an unfortunate situation for those who spent their life savings so they could participate in this year's Hajj, not sure where all this is leading to.

imo, everyone involved should just try to go another year- maybe the govt and some philanthropists will cover the costs or something.

If this rule by Saudi authority is not relaxed, then very few people will be performing this religious obligation in the future. There are other avenue of worshiping God afterall, there is a clause on this one; "if you can afford it". If you can not afford it base on the present rules, please use the little money you have for the downtrodden that are everywhere in our society. With this, you might even have registered for a heavenly title rather than the one we acquire here if it is true we seek the countenance of God. Anyway, sorry for the hardship you all did not bargain for.

48 hours isn't enough, the ultimate protest should be cancelling this year's Hajj. It won't kill us! Again,the Nigeria Ambassador to Saudi Arabia should be recalled. The Saudi Ambassador should also been sent packing. Then, the diplomatic talks can start from there.

wetin happen to YANKARI GAME RESERVE? NA BY FORCE THEY SHOULD GO THEIR? jokes part,
many go their to do personal bussinesss and not to pray and in doing so, many arab indegines had fall victims of frauds and bad bussinesses. This is just away to tell them that we are tired of your influx,control your self at home.

mens dept: Nigeria for you. ALways reacting when something bad happens.

Every year these so called pilgrims are jailed, stampeded, kicked out of Arabia, etc., and yet, these Nig.ger, I mean Nigerian (Wannabe) muslims cant wait to enter a country where there's light, roads, organization, and relative stabiity.

Funny enough, the A-rabs and their region are too good for the black idiots, henceforth the disregard for them.

Instead of thinking about how to develop Zamfara and Bauchi, off they go.


Fools

have u taken ur medicine

Kamsy10: Is that our female pilgrims didnt know they were supposed to have male companions for the trip? They think it's our country where you get a national award for lawlessness. I'm happy they got the treatment they deserve . Reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins,some were prepared,some were not

what is wrong in male companions not following dem,are dey babies or do dey lack ability to think,just gimme one reason y men MUST follow dem,is it dat if men dont follow dem,dey will nt pray or wot

mmmustapha: have u taken ur medicine

Why the question if i may ask? Government waste billions sending pastors to jerusalem every year and muslims to mecca yearly.They divert allocations to personal offshore accounts,when they can put these free oil and taxpayers money to develop our death trap called roads,give us water,light,world standard health care,fast judiciary system and a host of democratic dividends. What do we get for misplaced priorities? Shame,humiliation. . . Try rephrase your question. Have you taken yours?

The rules made by the saudi authority didn't come over night,the Hajj commission should be made accountable for the embarrassment of Nigeria. Its High time we knew that phrase of Giant of Africa is gradually coming to an end,must our attitude of lawlessness be displayed at international level...let them even ban us from the pilgrimage..na by force to die Alhaji or Alhaja?

EVEN SAUDI THEY CANT ENTER TALK MORE OF HEAVEN.......THE QUESTION IS WHY WERE ONLY NIGERIANS DETAINED? WITH ALL THEIR GRA-GRA IN THE NAME OF ISLAM. THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, HELL MAY END-UP REJECTING SOME RACE FOR BEING TOO BLOODY.

kulyie: what is wrong in male companions not following dem,are dey babies or do dey lack ability to think,just gimme one reason y men MUST follow dem,is it dat if men dont follow dem,dey will nt pray or wot

Oga. Every nation is not like Nigeria where ANYTHING GOES.A place where there's no order. Suffice to say that many go to these places for business.However, i think the Hajj commision ought to be sacked for this national disgrace(religious sentiment apart). They are Nigerian women and our name is being dragged in the mud here. If u are in Rome,behave like a Roman. I believe this wil teach our gvt and people some lessons. Hope these is resolved asap

The truth is this! Muslim world don't see Nigeria has a country with a good islamic culture. Boko haram are busy killing defend less citizen, while muslim world looks at them as a coward that lacks total direction to islamic principal. The lesson we refused to learn at home, definitely we learn outside.

Ok!

mens dept: Nigeria for you. ALways reacting when something bad happens.

Every year these so called pilgrims are jailed, stampeded, kicked out of Arabia, etc., and yet, these Nig.ger, I mean Nigerian (Wannabe) muslims cant wait to enter a country where there's light, roads, organization, and relative stabiity.

Funny enough, the A-rabs and their region are too good for the black idiots, henceforth the disregard for them.

Instead of thinking about how to develop Zamfara and Bauchi, off they go.


Fools

Can't you pass your comments without being insultive

60,000 PILGRIMS SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT! MULTIPLY N400,000 BY 60,000 EVERY YEAR AND YOU WILL SEE WHY THE NORTH IS STILL UNDEVELOPED

idlaw2k3: 60,000 PILGRIMS SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT! MULTIPLY N400,000 BY 60,000 EVERY YEAR AND YOU WILL SEE WHY THE NORTH IS STILL UNDEVELOPED

By far the best post.

Somebody shout RACISM!!!! Arabs are the most racist people in the world towards Africans!

idlaw2k3: 60,000 PILGRIMS SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT! MULTIPLY N400,000 BY 60,000 EVERY YEAR AND YOU WILL SEE WHY THE NORTH IS STILL UNDEVELOPED

Absolutely agree with u, 60 000 pilgrims!!!!
With tax payers money(and a token contribution by the pilgrims i heard)
What a COLOSSAL WASTE!
Gosh! I think Saudi Arabia and Israel shld BAN Nigerians permanently frm MASS pilgrimage.
Thousands of almajiris are begging on the streets and instead of using those funds to help them, they are used by politrickians to send their 'crew' to Mecca and Israel.
Do u see almajiris on the streets of Riyadh?

eaglechild:
Absolutely agree with u, 60 000 pilgrims!!!!
With tax payers money(and a token contribution by the pilgrims i heard)
What a COLOSSAL WASTE!
Gosh! I think Saudi Arabia and Israel shld BAN Nigerians permanently frm MASS pilgrimage.
Thousands of almajiris are begging on the streets and instead of using those funds to help them, they are used by politrickians to send their 'crew' to Mecca and Israel.
Do u see almajiris on the streets of Riyadh?

Words!

Almajiris are not in thousands they are in millions. And there is no move by their so called leaders to do something about it. Well it started consuming them.

Joyturns2: Summoned sounds like order or something expecially when it's Nigerian reporter that is speaking, maybe it should be "when they met" IMO oooo

This is done world over in diplomatic relations. Saying 'when they met' sounds like he paid Sambo a courtesy visit and they wanted to have a cup of tea. Like the news rightly stated, he was summoned 'to explain the treatment given to Nigerians and also to register our complaints with his home country'.