ZHUL-QI’DA 26, 1429 A.H.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2008
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Hajj 2009: Task Before Nigerian Hajj Commission
By Muhammad Alfa
The annual Muslim Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam prescribed for those who can afford it. The emphasis here is on the affordability, which makes the exercise a very flexible one as the injunction is very specific only on those who have the means in wealth and are stable in health.
There is however a recurring problem in Nigeria which seems to ignore the import of this flexibility in the way the Hajj exercise is annually organised and conducted resulting more often in series of hardships and embarrassment to Nigerians as individuals, the country as an entity and by extension, the black race.
It is a tradition that the end of Hajj exercise in any particular year is considered the beginning of preparations for the subsequent year's exercise and this is so because every year brings to the fore peculiar problems associated with such a cumbersome operation.
This explains why visitors to the Holy lands of Mecca and Medina year in-year out are faced with the task of readjusting to the series of changes usually effected especially, at sites where rites are performed as symbolised by the traditions of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Him).
In places like the Jamraat (for the stoning of the Devil), the lanes for Safa and Marwa, the space for Arafat (signifying the climbing of the mount) as well as the expansion of the Holy Mosques in both Mecca and Medina, changes are noticed every year in line with problems discovered in the preceding year of the Hajj exercise.
The Saudi authorities give every aspect of the exercise a thorough review at the end of each Hajj and all problems discovered are given the desired attention not minding how drastically such a review would affect participating countries the world over by way of difficulty of implementation.
The believe is that whatever measure or step taken is for the betterment of all the Muslims of the world and all countries are duly communicated ahead of time for them to take note of the new measures with a view to conforming with them in the subsequent year.
Steps as simple as flight entry schedules per country-per flight, numbers of pilgrims allowed for each country, accommodation arrangements among others are not taken for granted by the Saudi Government and the strictness with which these regulations are enforced shows the level of seriousness of the Saudi authorities in ensuring hitch-free Hajj every subsequent year.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Nigeria when it comes to organising and conducting Hajj operations and it is shameful that all problems associated with the exercise in Nigeria have become recurring decimals.
Nigeria is a country where things are taken for granted and both the Government and the governed have equal share of blame in this regard because, they are all culprits in the decaying social value system the country has had to experience over the years.
Looking at Hajj exercises in Nigeria over the years, it would be safe to conclude that while Nigerians remain dogmatic in their approach to the exercise all this while, the authorities on the other hand, lack the will power to inject new ideas towards ensuring a successful Hajj operation.
This subsequently results in the same problems recurring every year either as it affects choice of airliners, attitude of pilgrims, visa arrangements, departure arrangements, accommodation in the Holy land or the general conduct of Nigerian pilgrims during the exercise.
One is actually tempted to ask why the situation has remained unchanged in spite of elaborate arrangements that usually trail such an exercise each year with the standing as well as ad-hoc bodies like the pilgrims welfare board officials at States and Federal levels, Hajj committees also at different levels of governments and other similar officials in place.
The answer may not be far from the stubbornness of Nigerians on one hand and general corrupt tendencies that have become a way of life of the people on the other. This may sound offending but it is a fact.
The stubbornness of Nigerians has to do with unwillingness to obey simple rules and follow regulations and both the rich and the poor are culprits in this regard leading to disorderliness and for an operation like the Hajj exercise, it makes it more rancorous.
Corrupt tendencies are features that are found in all stages of the operation from the point of paying the Hajj fares down to the return trip from the Holy land where sharp practices are the order of the day.
It is either people would refuse to pay on time to allow for early remittance of the required charges to relevant agencies or the authorities on their part show lukewarm attitude when it comes to doing the right thing at the appropriate time in the course of the preparation for the operation. This is typically the Nigerian way of doing things and as some would say; "it is in our blood."
Nigeria with not more than one hundred thousand people performing the pilgrimage every year gives the Saudi authorities more sleepless nights than countries like Indonesia with an average of two hundred and fifty thousand pilgrims each year.
The reason for this is simple; the Indonesians are more orderly, obedient and sincere in their approach to the Hajj operation than the Nigerian government and people.
In fact, it is said that performing the Hajj as an Indonesian takes years of preparation, some as long as five years or even more and intending pilgrims are short listed on first come first served basis, therefore, there is no way one can bulldoze one's way ahead of those before one.
It is indeed an interesting thing to see the Indonesians in the Holy land. In spite of their number, they are housed in about the best hotels, they are always orderly and their flights into and from Jeddah are the smoothest. Nigeria's Kabo Air is said to be involved in the airlift of the Indonesians for Hajj operation for some years now.
In Nigeria, it is always a fire brigade approach and all the noise about early preparation is a mere press talk and this approach benefits the organisers more because of the panic rush to beat the deadline.
This, more often, paves the way for the officials to capitalise on the anxious moment to perpetrate their self serving agenda in order to make fast bucks at the expense of the country and the unsuspecting intending pilgrims.
Nigeria in the last few years had had cause to annually officially seek for waivers on the closure of the Jeddah airport after the deadline as it is traditional during Hajj operations and on a few occasions, in spite of being granted such waivers, some Nigerian pilgrims ended up not being airlifted to perform the Hajj.
The stampede ritual is usually the same on the homeward journey as it is during departure to the Holy land for the Nigerian pilgrims and this indeed is not a good testimony for the image of the country.
As we begin another Hajj operation this year therefore, there is the need for the Nigerian Hajj commission to really reflect on these setbacks and seek a permanent solution to the denting of the Nigerian image in the name of Holy pilgrimage.
Of course, we can do better than most of the countries partaking in the exercise and one of the ways to achieve that is to borrow a leave from the experience of the Indonesians.
That indeed is the task before the Nigerian Hajj Commission and with a strong backing of the Federal Government and the support of Nigerians, the problem of Hajj operation in Nigeria would sure be a thing of the past.
The time to really make the move for a better and smoother Hajj operation in Nigeria is now. We have what it takes to make things work, the only thing lacking is the will power and this in itself is a thing of the mind.
It is time to ponder over this, just may be our minds would be touched by a divine sense of reasoning for the good of our people.
*Alfa is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.
