The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says the Nusuk card introduced by Saudi authorities to prevent illegal migrants from gaining access to pilgrims’ tents at the sites of hajj rituals didn’t achieve its essence totally.
Dr Aliyu Tanko, the Chairman, Committee on Movement of Pilgrims, said this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday at Mina in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nusuk card is a crucial document introduced by Saudi authorities for identification of pilgrims to enable them again access to sites of hajj rituals.
The introduction of the card became necessary due to the increased incidence of fake pilgrims and illegal migrants during the core hajj rites period in the past.
Tanko said, “Unfortunately, even before the arrival of Nigerian pilgrims at the ritual sites, illegal migrants have already gained access to the area.
” To be frank with you, even before we left Makkah to Mina with our pilgrims, illegal migrants have gained access to the area, in spite of the introduction of the NUSUK card for easy identification of real pilgrims.
” And that has clearly shown that the NUSUK card introduced by the Saudi authority to prevent illegal people from gaining access to tents in Mina, Arafat and Muzzalifah has failed.
” Therefore, the essence of the card has not been achieved, even though it has worked to some extent but the objective of stopping fake pilgrims and illegal migrants has not been totally achieved.”
Tanko, however, said that with the support of the Saudi authorities, the commission was able to overcome most of the challenges anticipated during the hajj.
He said, ” To Allah be the glory, we have come to the end of the 2024 Hajj rites in Mina and the pilgrims have returned to Makkah, which signaled the conclusion of the exercise.
” The 2024 Hajj came with a lot of things and we have overcome all the challenges we anticipated.
” Therefore, we have recorded tremendous successes.”
NAN reports the NAHCON officials on Monday intercepted two illegal migrants of Nigerian descent, Muhammed Umar and Nazifi Tasi’u GARBA,. over infiltration of the pilgrims’ tents amidst concerns regarding overstretched accommodation and petty theft.
Consequently, the suspects were handed over to the Saudi Police, where their biometrics were obtained and a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyals was imposed on each of them to be paid whenever they were leaving the country. (NAN)
By Salisu Sani-Idris
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