“I have to commend the state Pilgrims Welfare Board and the entire pilgrims officials for the well-behaved manner they conducted themselves throughout this year’s Hajj period”.

These were the very words of the leader of the Kano state pilgrims delegation to the Holy land (Ameerul-Hajj), the commissioner of information, Alhaji Garba Yusuf Abubakar.

In a telephone interview from Makkah, the Ameerul-Hajj told Daily Triumph that the 2005 Annual Hajj Operation is evidently the most organized and successful, compared to what obtained in the past.

“When you look at it from the Saudi Arabian perspective, they have devised a more idealistic strategy in curbing the menace of the chaos often experienced at the Jamaraat in Minna, by erecting a tall wall demarcating the entry and exit points. This has surely reduced drastically such ruffleness that often resulted in sustaining serious injuries and sometimes even death,” Alhaji Abubakar enthused.

On Nigeria’s part, the commissioner expressed satisfaction over the manner with which the Nigerian Hajj Mission, a subsidiary of the nations’ foreign affairs ministry conducted its duty, for what he called “an excellent performance which clearly showed palpable signs of improvement against last year”, adding that their foresightedness and ability to divide the whole of Nigeria’s pilgrims contingents into separate units and groups was what enhanced their chances to succeed in this regard.

Contrary to media reports that some Kano state pilgrims were left wandering in Minna on the Arafat day due to scanty provision of luxious busses to ferry them, the Ameerul-Hajj debunked such stories as baseless, adding that what really happened was that initially some of the bus drivers were not able to locate the Kano state pilgrims’ tent in time which consequently led to some people spreading rumours that the busses were not forthcoming.

“But fortunately for us, we were able to explain the situation to them and before some time the straying buses finally arrived and the pilgrims were conveyed to Arafat almost at once; in a long convoy. So, I don’t know where they got this story about neglecting Kano pilgrims without transportation. As far as I’m concerned, this is not true”, the leader of the Kano delegation affirmed.

Asked to comment on the problem of water shortage or absence at Makkah residence secured for the pilgrims as reported two days ago in one of the local radio stations, Alhaji Abubakar explained that what brought the said problem was not limited to the house particularly but several others in the Shara Mansur Street; area where the Kano pilgrims are domiciled.

“The truth of the matter was that a water pump pipe that serves the whole area was reportedly knocked-off by a car and this consequently led to the closure of the main pipe to enable repairs”, adding that within 48 hours, the Saudi water board officials were able to put the pipe back in order.

While confirming that some pilgrims from the state who were among the first batch to have visited Madina before Arafat day, the information commissioner declared that, “more than 60 per cent of our pilgrims would be proceeding to Madina tomorrow (Friday) where they are expected to spend about a week before embarking on the long journey back home”.

He therefore commended the entire Kano pilgrims for exhibiting good manners at the same time for being good ambassadors not only to Kano state but Nigeria as a whole.

Some pilgrims who also spoke to Daily Triumph in a telephone interview expressed satisfaction with the conduct and organisation of the exercise.