Intending Nigerian pilgrims express mixed feelings on int’l hajj cancellation
In Kano, some of the intending pilgrims who spoke with Daily Trust expressed displeasure over the exemption of foreign pilgrims from this year’s hajj, even as they accepted it as the will of God.
Malam Abdullahi Magaji Kankara said, “Travelling for the pilgrimage is like destiny. I am not destined to travel this year even after making my complete payment, due to coronavirus. I pray the disappointment will later turn to blessing.”
Similarly, Hajiya Hajara Aliyu, who said she was amazed about the development added that this is the first time she will miss traveling to the holy land for the Hajj in the last two decades.
Alhaji Maniru Bala, who had paid N1.2million for the hajj told Daily Trust that he was devastated when he heard the news Monday morning. He however said, “There is nothing one can do if it is destined by Allah.”
Mukhtar Ahmad Ungogo said, “I felt bad because I’ve made arrangements to perform hajj this year; this would have been my first time. But it is the will of Allah. The only thing is to get back our money. I deposited N1.5million.
For Malam Musa Bala of Warawa local government, the news came to him, not as a surprise. A tour operator, who is the CEO of Arafat Travel Agency, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arafat told one of our reporters that Saudi Arabian authorities have already told all tour operators not to make any commitment with the Saudi Arabian hajj authorities.
In Lagos, Mr. Rasheed Abubakar, a journalist, and an intending pilgrim said he had always desired to perform Hajj for years without a means until he got a helper this year.
But he said he accepted the decision of Saudi Arabia as the wish of Almighty Allah.
He however, said the decision of the Saudi authorities is understandable due to the increasing rate of COVID-19 infections globally.
Dr. Oloyo Ahmed, another intending pilgrim, also said the decision of the Saudi authorities is the wish of Almighty Allah. He said as a medical practitioner, the safety of pilgrims is very paramount in Hajj operation.
In Kaduna State, intending pilgrims have resigned to fate following the cancelation of the 2020 Hajj pilgrimage due to the coronavirus pandemic which is ravaging the whole world.
A pilgrim Alin Ali, who registered for the 2020 Hajj exercise under Kaduna North Local Government said as a Muslim, one must believe that everything comes from Allah.
Another pilgrim, Nura Shehu Barde who is a first-timer expressed disappointment in the cancelation of the 2020 Hajj exercise by the Saudi Arabian authority.
Barde who had completed payment for the hajj fair of N1.5 million said the process of acquiring his visa for the exercise had already commenced when the announcement was made.
He also called on intending pilgrims to accept the cancelation of the hajj as the will of Allah and pray for the country and indeed the whole world is able to overcome the pandemic.