The National Hajj Commission and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia have been ordered to urgently account for all Nigerian pilgrims in the aftermath of the stampede that happened in Makka last Thursday.
In a statement released Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, President Buhari gave the directive following conflicting reports on the number of Nigerians who died or suffered injuries in the catastrophe which claimed well over 700 lives.
The statement states that President Buhari is very concerned that days after the unfortunate incident, some Nigerian families are still grappling with painful uncertainty over the fate of their relatives who traveled to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
He has also ordered the National Hajj Commission to work with the various state pilgrim boards, Islamic organisations and private travel agencies involved in Hajj operations to speedily provide a confirmed and verifiable report on the status of every Nigerian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia.
