The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to evolve new strategies to ensure prompt delivery of pilgrims luggage after the Hajj.
The Sultan, who was the 2011 National Amirul Hajj, gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja at a post mortem conference on last year's Hajj.
He decried the incessant late arrival of pilgrims' luggage at the end of every pilgrimage and called on NAHCON and other stakeholders to ensure that such incidences were addressed squarely.
“I still do not understand why some pilgrims have not received their luggage months after Hajj. I think this is still a dark spot in our activities and we need NAHCON and other stakeholders to do more in this regard.''
The sultan also stressed the need for Hajj officials to work with fear of Allah, and strive for better service delivery to the pilgrims.
He said the conference was part of effort to holistically review the 2011 Hajj with a view to make the 2012 exercise better.
He thanked the Federal Government and other partners for their efforts and commitment to ensure the success of last Year's Hajj.
Earlier, Malam Muhammad Bello, NAHCON Chairman, in his opening remark, expressed the commission’s commitment to better service delivery to the pilgrims.
He said NAHCON was working with all stakeholders to improve logistics, accommodation arrangements and hygiene for the pilgrims during the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference will deliberate on Pilgrims accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, feeding, luggage, Airlift operations, security as well as health, environment and Sanitation during the Hajj.
The conference is being attended by NAHCON officials, State Pilgrims Welfare? Boards, Air Carriers, Imams and other Hajj stakeholders. (NAN)