AS Nigerian Muslims depart for this year's holy pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia), it is important that they present themselves as worthy ambassadors of the country, and perform the ritual with the religious zeal it requires. It is perhaps more imperative to remind the stakeholders of their duty for thorough travel arrangements. The country cannot continue to bear the annual disgrace of shoddy arrangements that regularly leave pilgrims stranded and the rest of the country embarrassed. Moreover, it is shameful that Nigeria always seems to be the only country whose pilgrims are subjected to avoidable hardship during the pilgrimage.According to reports, the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims departed on Sunday from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, for Saudi Arabia. The batch, consisting of 510 pilgrims from Lagos State, was airlifted by one of the designated airline carriers. No fewer than 8,213 pilgrims from the country are expected to perform the hajj this year. They form a good part of the two million hajj pilgrims expected across the globe.To some extent, the assurance of the Nigerian pilgrims travel stakeholders have been comforting, to the effect that the arrangements would be devoid of hitches. For instance, one of the carriers ' Med-View Airline ' which is designated to move 14,000 pilgrims from four departure points in the country, promised to operate as scheduled.This and similar assurances must however be implemented to their logical end. The recent past is replete with unfulfilled travel arrangement pledges by the concerned agencies, much to the embarrassment of the entire nation. The result was that pilgrims were often stranded in airports waiting to be flown either to or from Mecca. Many prospective pilgrims forfeited their pilgrimage opportunities and it was not uncommon for some to die in the midst of the suffering.Besides, the Saudi Arabian authorities have in the recent past marked Nigeria for its shoddy handling of pilgrims' affairs. Out of compassion, the country had to extend deadline for arrival at or departure from Jeddah airport solely for Nigerians. Although incidents of this nature were much reduced in the past one or two years, the only guarantee that they would not recur is for those concerned to face their duties seriously.Sadly, much of the confusion generated in the past on the hajj has been traceable to involvement of government on the pilgrimage. Too often, governments, at both the federal and state (even local government) levels, want to be involved in the details of choosing and sponsoring pilgrims, as well as arranging for their transportation, accommodation and feeding. Their actions in this regard not unexpectedly end up in chaos as they hardly could cope with the sheer number of pilgrims, and the ensuring logistics.By far, government's misadventure in pilgrimages is more conspicuous in their sponsoring of pilgrims on political patronage, using public funds and resources. It is unfortunate that over the years, government at all levels turned deaf ears to entreaties by well-meaning Nigerians asking them (governments) to stay away from pilgrimages, which ordinarily is a very personal matter for individuals.It bears repeating that government's role in pilgrimages, whether for Christians or Muslims, should be limited to providing consular services, regulation of airlines and other relevant bodies, regulation of the conduct of intending pilgrims and provision of functional airports and other facilities.Instructively, the Federal Government under the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua abstained from sponsoring pilgrims. But just as prospective pilgrims were getting used to the decision, government appears to recant, a result that is manifest in the current hajj exercise.Inadvertently or otherwise, government's negative attitude in this regard has fuelled abuse of pilgrimage by some Nigerians. For instance, some citizens exploit the government's sponsorship largesse to go on pilgrimage almost every year, against the teaching of Islam that enjoins hajj at least once in a lifetime, but definitely not every year.Pilgrims for this year's hajj should be focused on the essence of the pilgrimage, and avail themselves of the opportunity for spiritual upliftment embodied in the hajj. It is against the spirit of the pilgrimage to go to Mecca at this time for purpose of transacting business, trading or engaging in illicit or illegal activities.The pilgrims should be of good behaviour, as worthy ambassadors of the entire country. We wish them a peaceful and fulfilling pilgrimage.
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