The presidential committee on the
hajj crisis being faced by some Nigerians in Saudi Arabia has yet to depart
Nigeria for Saudi Arabia. The committee, led by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, is to mediate in the controversy
generated by the detention of over 1,000 Nigerian female pilgrims by the Saudi
authorities.
There were indications on Friday that
the Saudi king was reluctant to meet with the Nigerian delegation, which might
be responsible for the delay in the take-off of the committee members for the
assignment.
The Saudi Arabian Embassy refused to
comment on the issue as it did on Thursday.
When one of correspondents visited
the embassy of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday, a female employee,
who spoke through the intercom, said, “Sir, there is nothing we have to say to
you please.”
Asked if the ambassador’s pledge that
the issue would be resolved today (Friday) was still possible, she hung up the
phone.
In spite of this, the National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria is optimistic that there will be a break in the stalemate.
Spokesman for the commission, Mallam
Uba Mana, said on Friday that a meeting between the committee and officials of
the Hajj commission was scheduled to hold later in the day.
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