Onyebuchi Ezigbo
29 November 2008
Abuja — Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was yesterday besieged by anxious and frustrated Muslim pilgrims seeking to obtain necessary documents to enable them travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The angry pilgrims who thronged the international wing of the Abuja airport early yesterday morning in search of entry visa to the Holy land, were however disappointed when they were told that the Saudi Embassy could not not issue them with the entry documents.
Most of the stranded pilgrims were seen eating and sleeping around the airport thereby making the whole place untidy.
THISDAY gathered that most of the pilgrims are from Niger State. An official of a local government authority who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonimity said many of the eligible pilgrims from the state were yet to be air-lifted because they have not been issued with Saudi Arabian visa.
According to him, these pilgrims after waiting in vain to be attended to in the camp in Niger State became apprehensive and moved to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, their designated point of air-lift, to see if they can sort things out.
The situation at the airport yesterday was very tense and confusing as the pilgrims took over virtually all available space at the airport lobby as well as the spaces at the parking lots.
Passengers arriving from bvarious destinations into the Federal Capital Territory were jolted at the sight of crowds of people loitering around the reception areas. Most them passengers barred their minds to THISDAY, expessing disgust at the turn of events.
Godwin Akpe, who flew in from a trip abroad wondered why the international airport will be made to witness such a rowdy atmosphere.
He said apart from the security implications, the situation smacks of improper travel arrangement which is not good for the country's image.
When contacted for his comments the Manager of the Airport, Mr. Chris Bature said he was out of town and could not possibly assess the situation.
A source at the Pilgrims Welfare Board tol THISDAY in confidence that there has a misunderstanding between the Board and Saudi embassy concerning the number of pilgrims to be issued with Visa.
While the Suadi embassy complained that the list from most of the Local Goverment Areas in Niger state were over-bloated, the Board inssisted the pilgrims were duly acredited to perfom the Haji.
The source said while the number of pilgrims seeking to be air-lifted for the Haji from the state were 4000, only 2000 have so far been issued with travel papers.
He said in some cases only 200 of the pilgrims were were given visa while their air-lift are yet to commence.
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