By Salisu Sani-Idris
Abuja – As part of efforts to ensure security of Nigerian pilgrims during 2017 pigrimage in Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Tuesday inaugurated a Central Security Committee for the exercise.
Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, NAHCON Chairman, while inaugurating the committee, said the effort would help the pilgrims to abide by the rules and regulations of the Saudi authority.
Represented by Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo, the Commissioner for Personnel Planning Policy and Finance, Mohammed urged members of the committee to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.
Members of the committee were drawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons.
Others are from the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the first time the commission has inaugurated a central security committee for hajj operations.
The transportation of pilgrims is expected to commence on July 24, while Jeddah International Airport will close for Hajj operations on Aug. 26.
About 76,000 Nigerian Muslims from the 36 states of the federation and FCT participated in the 2016 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.