House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs yesterday expressed concerns over recent death of 44 Nigerians
in the holy land of Mecca and Medina during this year's Hajj.
The House said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) would answer questions over the deaths which mostly resulted from sicknesses and other causes.
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje yesterday described the situation as "avoidable" and "totally unacceptable".
At a budget defence exercise of some agencies under the Foreign Affairs yesterday, she said the deaths were embarrassing and fatal.
Elendu-Ukeje attributed poor sanitary conditions and the contentious "Muharram" rule which Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to in the holy city.
The queries were issued when NAHCON Chairman, Muhammad Bello defended the commission's 2013 budget before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NAHCON's proposed budget for 2013 is N724,465,458 million.
Meanwhile, the House Committee has demanded from NAHCON a detailed report of this year's Hajj operation.
It will be recalled that Nigerian female Muslim pilgrims were held at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and subsequently deported for traveling without male relatives (Muharram) -- a curious new rule which affected female pilgrims aged 40 and below.
The House said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) would answer questions over the deaths which mostly resulted from sicknesses and other causes.
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje yesterday described the situation as "avoidable" and "totally unacceptable".
At a budget defence exercise of some agencies under the Foreign Affairs yesterday, she said the deaths were embarrassing and fatal.
Elendu-Ukeje attributed poor sanitary conditions and the contentious "Muharram" rule which Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to in the holy city.
The queries were issued when NAHCON Chairman, Muhammad Bello defended the commission's 2013 budget before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NAHCON's proposed budget for 2013 is N724,465,458 million.
Meanwhile, the House Committee has demanded from NAHCON a detailed report of this year's Hajj operation.
It will be recalled that Nigerian female Muslim pilgrims were held at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and subsequently deported for traveling without male relatives (Muharram) -- a curious new rule which affected female pilgrims aged 40 and below.
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