S/Arabia introduces electronic gadget to monitor movement
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced electronic gadgets to monitor the movement of leaders who will lead pilgrims in groups to Jamrat (pebbles throwing points) in Mina after ‘Arafaat as part of crowd control measures.
The Representative of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the Kingdom, Dr Aliyu Tanko, spoke on the new measure yesterday in Makkah, during a practical demonstration exercise and visitation to Hajj
rites’ sites.
Dr Tanko, who is the Makkah Deputy Coordinator led the team of NAHCON officials that included Aliyu Shamaki, Head, Field Office; and Usman Samba, Human Resource, to the program organised by the Saudi Hajj Ministry on Jamrat(crowd control).
Dr Tanko, who said the gadgets would record the movement of groups’ leaders until they returned to their tents in Mina, added that Nigerian pilgrims would be conveyed to ‘Arafaat, Mina, and Muzdalifah by dedicated buses.
He said that the initiative was aimed at guaranteeing the safety of pilgrims and avoiding casualties that arose in the past incidents.
He said in recognition of the need to control crowd movement to Jamrat, a road had been dedicated to Nigerian pilgrims since they constituted one third of the guests of Allah from Non-Arab African countries (Mutawifs).
Dr Tanko, who urged the pilgrims to listen to instructions from State officials regarding the movement to Jamrat which would be coordinated from their tents in Mina, recalled that some of the guests of Allah had lost their their way in the past and found themselves in wrong places because of the decision to go to pebbles throwing points alone.
He said people got lost because of several identical multiple roads
Dr Tanko, who said various countries would be given allotted time to go to Jamrat, added that a stakeholders meeting would hold on August 7, 2019 to prepare the minds of the pilgrims on the steps taken to prevent stampede.
The visit took the team to Nigerian pilgrims’ tents in Muzdalifah, a location the guests of Allah will go from ‘Arafaat.
Meanwhile, the number of Nigerian pilgrims that have been airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached 41,835.
The Command and Control Centre of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said in a statement issued last night Max Air NGL3059 departed Yola to Madinah at 20:13 hours with 440 Pilgrims.