I first performed Hajj in 2006 and since then I never thought of making this great spiritual journey again. From the beginning to the end, the experience was excruciating. There was chaos at every stage and it was such a bad experience mainly because of the Nigerian factor.

Airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land was so disorganized to the extent that many pilgrims ended up doing their pilgrimage at the airport in uniform of pain and disappointment. This disorder was also inflicted on the Saudi authorities, as Nigeria made request, as usual for extension, to facilitate completion of airlift of pilgrims. From Jeddah airport the Nigerian pilgrim is outstanding in his confusion. Even Afghanistan- a country perpetually in war, provided its pilgrims the comforts Nigerians could only look at. In Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Medina it is very easy to spot the inability of Nigeria to provide the order that will make Hajj what it should be: a lifetime journey of spiritual growth. While other pilgrims were busy in acts of worship, their Nigerian counterparts were engrossed in rampant shopping.

While the pilgrims of other countries keep their tents clean and quite at Mina- the Nigerian pilgrims show who they are with the mountain of garbage in and around their tents. The culture of chattering on petty issues at high voice pitch also goes with them to the holy land. Then there is the typical

Nigerian elite, who will not leave back in Nigeria his toga of 'big man'. At every point where people were required to join queues, the Nigerian elite and his family will cut corners with the help of submissive officials. The Nigerian big man will show who he is by behaving as if other Nigerians are less human. Even in buying harami, they ask for the one that is mustexpensive; to distinguish themselves from ordinary pilgrims. I only understand why people pursue appointments in pilgrims' affairs agencies in 2006. It is a juicy government organ- it comes with benefits, like bribe and other forms of gratification. Hajj officials are supposed to be guides to the pilgrims in the holy land. But the moment they land there, they will never be seen unless if a big man or a wife of a big man goes around.

Nigerian politicians were not left out in making the Hajj a nightmare. Governors and their cronies dish out Hajj seats to party thugs and even prostitutes. Some of them never meet the conditions of embarking on the spiritual journey, but because their man is in power, there is no other way to make them a testimony of his power unless they are sponsored to go on Hajj. The party thugs never abandon their thuggish conduct at home; they take it with them to the holy land. They misbehave and go on with arguments on petty party issues. Umra had significantly been turned into a way of taking a distance for vital political manoeuvre meetings. Likewise Hajj has been turned into a guised way of holding key political strategy meetings away from home. Hotel numbers are exchanged and till-day-breaks meetings held often from hotels towering the holy Ka'abah.

Above all, Nigerian pilgrims distinguished themselves by spreading rumours especially on Arafat Day. It's a day of deep reflection and prayers, but that was the day Nigerian pilgrims always choose to ask one another about rumours around obscure things. Hajj is an act of worship, but some Nigerians often on using public funds perform it every year as a way of showing who they are. They want to show they are, and still will be relevant in the rank of men of means by annual pilgrimage.

In both Makkah and Medina shop owners liked the Nigerian pilgrim for his or her very high shopping spirit.

This years Hajj witnessed timely completion of airlift of pilgrims to the holy land- for the first time in over a decade. To ensure smooth homeward airlift, the Amirul Hajj, Senator Kanti Bello insists pilgrims must come alone with their baggage. On December 2, it was reported that: "Since the beginning of the Hajj exercise, Bello has been emphasizing on the need for every Nigerian pilgrim to exercise discipline by abiding with the luggage policy entered into with the airlines. The luggage policy approves 10kg hand luggage and 40kg check-in-luggage for each pilgrim. Bello had launched a massive sensitisation campaign at Muna, Arafat and Makkah on the need for the pilgrims to stay within the stipulated luggage, in order for them to be able to collect theirs at the point of arrival in Nigeria". But some pilgrims reacted to this good initiative with violence, in the holy land of all places.

Bello should be commended for making this year's Hajj exercise outstanding, despite all the discouraging attitudes of some pilgrims, officials and even some of his legislature colleagues, who will bend the rules to achieve their selfish aims.

Gaya wrote from 2A Sani Abacha Way, Bata, Kano