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Sunday 30 September 2012

‘Deportation of female pilgrims gulped over N1bn’ - experts say

An estimated N1 billion may have been lost as a result of the deportation of Nigerian female pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, experts have said.

This is coming on the heels of accusation by the Nigerian envoy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abubakar  Shehu Bunu, who said that the authorities in the holy land had allegedly violated the Geneva Convention when they blocked him and his team from reaching the distressed female pilgrims at the airports.


Bunu, who could not hide his anger, told the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service in an interview monitored in Kaduna at the weekend that it was unfortunate that the Saudi authorities denied them access to the female pilgrims while they were in detention at the airports, which was a violation of the Geneva Convention that was soft on the women folk.

 However, a group, the Arewa Youth Forum, has called for the immediate resignation of the ambassador for alleged poor handling of affairs in the holy land and accused the United States of America (USA) of complicity in the unwarranted deportation of the Nigerian female pilgrims.

They said that since the USA was always behind Saudi Arabia and had enormous control over the major international organisations across the world, the Kingdom could trample upon the rights of Nigeria and Nigerians and remain unchallenged.

AYF also called for the immediate reorganisation of all state agencies handling hajj matters in Nigeria for not “being proactive” and advocated the injection of fresh blood into the system in line with the demands of modern times.

The AYF said from their investigation, over one billion naira might have been lost as a result of the deportation of the female pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria and sought for adequate compensation for the distressed women.

According to AYF leader, Gambo Gujungu, hajj is a multi-billion dollar business and Nigeria had always been the favourites of Saudi traders, who he was sure, might not be happy with the current diplomatic row.

He, however, expressed delight that  reports emanating from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) indicated that all the affected pilgrims would be taken care of and would not lose a kobo due to the problem encountered.

Ambassador Bunu had said in an interview that hard as they tried to convince the Saudis on the need to settle the matter amicably, they failed to respond in writing but were only giving verbal excuses.

The envoy said the Saudis stood their ground and only allowed  aged women to gain entry into the holy land.

He still expressed optimism that the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia would continue to flourish in spite of the diplomatic row.

On whether the Saudi authorities were skeptical that some of the women would defect after the pilgrimage, he explained that they had written a letter of undertaking that all the women would be returned to Nigeria after the hajj rituals but the Saudis did not agree.

Source: Tribune

42 comments:

  1. Too dumb of you to accuse US.u mean d "Great Satan" is manipulating authorities of Islam holiest land and country? Mtcheew

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  2. Must these northern goons always attribute all their problems to the United States? A fellow Moslem country is dealing with them and all they can do is to point accusing fingers to another country. The next thing you will hear is protest in the North and burning of American flag for a supposed crime committed by their fellow faith men. Na wa SMH

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  3. This frivolous venture is simply one of many nonsense that has kept us permanently underdeveloped.

    Visit: www.my-lagos.blogspot.com

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  4. Really . . . I wonder why they are not protesting at Saudi embassy . If it is to bomb church and kill Christians ahhh they go sabi that one sharp sharp . Abeg 2nd base jare lol

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    1. I ji ya! If na US now them to protest begin burn US owned firms and embassies

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  5. Stupid Muslims in Arewa youth forum bringing in the USA in their fucked up ways. Shame on you all

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  6. I SAY PUT DIS PPLE IN DANA AIR JOR N SEND IT ENROUTE CRASHLAND.C AS DEY CARRY BAG FR HEAD DEY RUN LIKE SAY NA BUS STOP.OHHH

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    1. Epitome of foolishness.bloody Retard if you have nothing relevant to say shut the fuck up.frustrated Mofo

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    2. Hehehe...and I for 1 "concur"

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    3. May it come to you

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  7. Hold on! Am I d only 1 dat noticed d amt spent?? 1 billion wah?? Isorai!

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  8. The north like to kiss saudis ass, the can do no wrong, they believe speaking again saudi will not get u a spot in heaven

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  9. Some Muslims are just insane and lacks intellectual kwashiokor, even the educated ones amongst them. If not, they won't be pointing fingers at U.S for a crime committed by their fellow nation. Mchew. Oshi is worry some people shaaa...

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  10. How come nigeria did not know that this women would be accompanied by male relatives?The Saudies have always looked at Nigerian pilgrims as inferior and crime ladden,so I don't blame them for ejecting these clowns frm their kingdom.
    Again this action proves to the world how cruel, meanspirited and inflexible these muslims can be towards fellow muslims. In d west,a compromise would have easily been reached regarding what to do with these scrappy scruffy women "pilgrims"".

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  11. I'm sure the kingdom of Saudi Arabia warned all theCountries abt their action months ago, but trust Nigeria authorities not to listen.... its one of the teachings of the prophet(pbuh) that matured women and young ladies need a male guide in form of families to embark on a journey like this...

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  12. Mstweee, they should face the saudi goverment instead of the US government.

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  13. Saudis have the right to ask nigerian women for Mahram .If the senegalese and moroccan women respect the Saudi rules of hajj what prevent Nigerians from doing same

    The truth Saudis have their reasons. Some nigerians ladies go to the holy land not only for hajj but for prostitution also.

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  14. Morons! Fools! Treated like unwanted slaves in their holy land and now they r blaming America. Myopic imbeciles!!

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  15. U dis linda d last tym u did nt show my comment

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  16. So this is my first time commenting and yes i've been a reader of your blog for 3weeks now. . . Still abashed by the fact that you are not saying anything about the flooding in asaba. . . . I wonder why plus the fact that most people don't seem to care about it, about the 1billion spent for this pilgrimage thing i just wish i my views would matter because i think any one that wants to go on a holy journey should saveup for it and not involve the government as its a personal spiritual upliftment exercise.


    RASPUTIN

    Abeg post my comment o

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  17. Foolishness.
    It's no news that Arabians hate black people, they just like their money

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  18. Us ke, wetin usa get for this matter

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  19. Pls u pple shud wake up, The Saudi Authority is aware of wat the young women engage into wt Arabs.

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  20. Pple wake up,dnt deceive wt to much grammer. Even their men here $ The Saudi's Authority is aware of wat dis Women comes to do wt Arabian Men.

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  21. thank u anon 1,58 all this pilgrimage to mecca and jerusalem yet nigeria remains one of the most corrupt countries......sponsoring this futile rubbish is one of the ways resources is being wasted.....

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  22. Go and protest in saudi embassy ..if it is just a rumour you hear about an insult on you guys you will be making trouble ....i expect a protests from u guys @ saudi embassy

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  23. saudi arabia deports unaccompanied women and you say it is united states chai..the dullness of these people is embarrassing.....and totally backward

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  24. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  25. It is good they sent them back..

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  26. It is good they were sent back.

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  27. nobody is acclaiming blame to anyone. they are just trying to sort things out. it in house problem and it will be resolved within. thanks for unreasonable comment.

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  28. I wonder the type of brain those guys get,why accuse USA for this matter

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  29. ki lon wa kiri sef?

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  30. Is this potential loss amount based on how much the women paid for this trip? I hope the Nigerian government didn't sponsor this trip... and what has the US got to do with it? People just like to talk. They've started!

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  31. I personally think they should stop funding religious travels

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  32. gulp ke? den dey swallow money for saudi abi wetin? abeg me sef i dey go do my own pilgrimage so i GULP my own cash

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  33. i think should learn how pay attention to details and stop jumping into conclusion. they never said they blamed the US all they said was the US did not react to the situation and they seemed to be behind the Saudi's. Since the US has made itself some kind of world police.

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  34. Why should the usa react to this matter. What has it got to do with them. honestly you people need to get more education.

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  35. NO DISRESPECT INTENDED TO THE MUSLIM FOLKS,BUT SERIOUSLY SHOULDN'T THE NIGERIAN GOVT CONSIDER LEAVING THESE KIND OF RELIGIOUS SOJOURNER TO CARRY THE TOTAL COST IF THEY MUST TRAVEL OR LET THE RELIGIOUS BODY CARRY THIS COST AND NOT GOVT SPENDING BILLIONS OF MUCH NEEDED FUNDS ON PEOPLE AND YET THE SOCIAL ILLS AND CORRUPTION IN THE LAND STILL DEEPENS. STATE GOVT, FED GOVT,SHOULD PLEASE STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH RELIGION AND WASTING MONEY ESPECIALLY THE CRAZY ONES IN THE NORTH AND SOME IN THE WEST THAT USE PILGRIMAGE NOW AS SOME FORM OF BRIBE.. WE ALL TALK ABOUT DEPORTATION OF THESE WOMEN,NO BODY IS TALKING OF THE MILLIONS OF NAIRA GONE DOWN THE DRAIN, JUST FLYING TO AND FRO FROM SA FOR NOTHING....WA, A SHAME!!

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  36. what a shame,it is stated on the saudi visa that any woman under the age of 45yrs without a mela companion(father,brother,uncle,grandfather)is not or should not be allowed to enter saudi and they don't give any body visa on arival is not a new law,or did the think is Nigeria where laws are bent to suit whoever.way to go saudi.

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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