Hajj: Pilgrims bringing kola nuts to Saudi Arabia delaying our operations – NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has decried the continuous smuggling of kola nuts to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Nigerian pilgrims.

NAHCON’s Head of National Reception Team, Madinah, Labaran Abdullahi, said the act is posing challenges to its operations as it leads to delays in airports.

Abdullahi was speaking with selected journalists in the holy city Sunday while stating that the commission has introduced new policies to ensure swift conveyance of pilgrims from the airports to their hotel.

“The Saudi government is discouraging people coming with kola nuts. These are the major issues. We always tell the state pilgrims coordinators to always discourage the pilgrims coming with kola nuts because that is what is giving us some delays but we are working smoothly with them. There has been cooperation between us and the pilgrims,” he said.

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He added that another problem it is facing is pilgrims keeping their passport in their bags after clearance in Nigeria.

“Some of them will mistakenly put their passport in their hand luggage, so it will become difficult to clear them in Saudi Arabia due to the luggage being moved to a waiting bus or taken to their hotels,” he said.

He however said the exercise has been seamless due to the collaboration from the Saudi government.

He added that the commission wants to achieve a rancour-free exercise while making the pilgrims happy.

“So far, I know that we have not had any issue and we want our pilgrims to perform their Hajj as provided in the Holy Qur’an and let them achieve what they are here for,” he said.