By Mikail Mumuni in Madinah
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria( NAHCON) has lamented medical check lapses through which pregnant women scaled thorough screenings to come to the holy land as pilgrims.
The Commissioner Planning, Research, Information, Statistics and Library Science of the Commission, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal stated the position of the Commission.
He spoke fielding questions from journalists in Madinah.
Professor Yagawal however said it was difficult to entirely blame the state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions for negligence.
He stated that the insecurity pervading some parts of Nigeria could not allow for thorough diligence in screening, saying though he was not holding brief for any state pilgrims board, nonetheless other factors, or variables could result to such breaches.
The Commissioner however said NAHCON would continue to engage state handlers to ensure diligence in screening of their pilgrims, particularly the female pilgrims to safeguard the life of the pregnant pilgrim and her foetus.
The Commissioner was reacting to a female pilgrim from Zamfara that was delivered of a baby in Madinah on Tuesday.
On the nefarious activities of cheats, extortionists and swindlers, particularly in Madinah, Professor Abubakar Yagawal said it was disheartening and disgusting for a Muslim to be brazenly heartless as to commit these atrocities in the holy land.
He said on their part NAHCON and state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies, and commissions would continue to educate the pilgrims on how to avoid these cheats, swindlers and extortionists by ensuring that they are discreet when it comes to their Basic Traveling Allowance, BTA, Hadaya and gold or silver teething.
Professor Abubakar Yagawal called on the media to also assist in this direction.