Hajj: 14,000 international pilgrims stranded
From MUSA TIJJANI, in Jeddah

INTERNATIONAL pilgrims in the Holyland have cried out over alleged denial by the Nigerian Hajj authorities to return home even as the authorities have debunked the notion which they described ‘’baseless.’’
The pilgrims, numbering about 14,000 are now stranded in the Holyland with their return journey back home hanging in the balance as it would be delayed.
One of the pilgrims, Alhassan Muhammad told newsmen that, ‘’the directives by the Amirul Hajj which is in line with the decision reached at a stakeholders’ meeting have not been fair to us. We paid as international pilgrims to be comfortable, but we have not enjoyed this comfort.’’
A female pilgrim, A’isha Abubakar who reasoned that regular pilgrims needed to be airlifted back home in time, however, argued that ‘’we, international pilgrims also deserve to be considered for early return. Many of us are workers expected to resume duty at our posts promptly.’’
However, the Amirul Hajj and leader of the federal government delegation, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, reacting to the development said the claim was a mere smear campaign by the pilgrims.
Sultan Abubakar reportedly insisted on strict adherence to the approval guideline for the airlift of regular pilgrims before considering those who came through the international route.
He said the Hajj authorities have a duty to follow due process in dealing with Nigerian pilgrims, pointing out that international pilgrims should have made arrangement for aircraft, staff and other facilities independent of that of the PCH to guard against any eventuality.
Also responding to the allegation, chairman of the PCH, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello took a swipe on some private tour operators many of whom, he said, were using the facilities provided by the PCH at the expense of regular pilgrims.
He said the committee would not compromise its chartered aircraft for use by international pilgrims, thereby denying those who strictly came to the holyland for Hajj via the PCH their due privilege.
A prominent scholar in Kano, told journalists in Jeddah although the plight of international pilgrims deserves attention, ‘’the fact is that most of them have performed Hajj many times, they know their way out and that is why they took international route.’’
But in a move to address the situation, some of the airline operators have re-routed their customers’ return to the country through Cairo, Dubai and even the United Kingdom.
However, Meridian Air which readied for the return journey but whose passengers were not readily available for the airlift had taken advantage of the situation to operate three flights of its international passengers.
In a related development, about 7,000 pilgrims have been airlifted back home in 17 flights operated by four airlines.
The pilgrims are from Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kogi, Bauchi, Niger and Nasarawa states.