22nd October, 2010
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, the Sultan of Sokoto has warned that the Federal Government would deal with any air carrier that failed to perform during this year’s Hajj operation.
Abubakar, who is the Amirul Hajj and Head of the Federal Government delegation to the Hajj, gave the warning on Thursday, while addressing some intending pilgrims at the Abubakar lll International Airport, Sokoto.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any of breach of the agreement signed by the air carriers, as it will not hesitate to sanction any airline that fails to abide by such agreements,” he said.
The Sultan, who was addressing intending pilgrims from Dange-Shuni, Rabah and Gudu local government areas of Sokoto State, assured all intending pilgrims that adequate arrangements had been made for a hitch-free operation.
He said that a level playing ground had been created to ensure smooth transportation of all intending pilgrims to the Holy land.
The Amirul Hajj said that the era when pilgrims spent many days in camps before being transported to and from the Holy Land was over.
He also enjoined the intending pilgrims to conduct themselves in an orderly manner, while in the Holy land, and urged them to pray for peace in Nigeria.
He added that they should not carry prohibited items to the Holy Land.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 2,000 pilgrims from the State have so far been transported to the Holy Land.