Buhari makes case for Nigerians killed in Saudi stampede
President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the
authorities of Saudi Arabia to come out with the
outcome of their investigation into the stampede
at Muna in 2015 during which 274 Nigerians were
believed to have died.
Buhari has also made a case for compensation for
six Nigerians killed in the crane incident in the
precincts of the Kaaba.
According to a statement on Saturday by his
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, the President raised the issues
during the talks he had with Saudi rulers during
his one-week official visit to the country.
Shehu said following the completion of talks with
rulers of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, Buhari
directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
National Hajj Commission to sit down with the
Saudis to negotiate improved terms and
conditions for Nigerian pilgrims performing the
Umrah and the annual Hajj.
This, he said, followed the acceptance by the
Saudi government to freely and openly discuss
outstanding issues with Nigeria.
“President Buhari, among other things, requested
the Saudis to conclude all issues with the Nigerian
Hajj Commission, such as the undetermined
outcome of their investigation into the stampede
at Muna last year, where our officials believe that
274 Nigerian lives were lost.
“There is also the case of compensation for six
Nigerians killed in the crane incident in the
precincts of the Kaaba and 35 others from the
stampede whose DNA profile is feared to be
missing.
“President Buhari equally charged the Ministry
and the NAHCON to seek a reduction of fees
associated with the Umrah Visa,” he said.
Among the 17 issues tendered at the initial
meeting between the officials of both countries,
Shehu said Nigeria appreciated the increase
offered for Umrah pilgrimage but asked that the
76,000 seats maintained for the Hajj be also
increased.
The meeting was said to have been led by
Nigeria’s Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Mrs.
Fatima Abba Ibrahim and Chairman of NAHCON,
Abdullahi Muhammed on the Nigerian side while
the Saudi side was led by their Minister of Hajj
Affairs, Dr.Bandar bin Muhammad al-Hajjar.
The two countries are expected to follow up on all
the issues in the coming weeks.
authorities of Saudi Arabia to come out with the
outcome of their investigation into the stampede
at Muna in 2015 during which 274 Nigerians were
believed to have died.
Buhari has also made a case for compensation for
six Nigerians killed in the crane incident in the
precincts of the Kaaba.
According to a statement on Saturday by his
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, the President raised the issues
during the talks he had with Saudi rulers during
his one-week official visit to the country.
Shehu said following the completion of talks with
rulers of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, Buhari
directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
National Hajj Commission to sit down with the
Saudis to negotiate improved terms and
conditions for Nigerian pilgrims performing the
Umrah and the annual Hajj.
This, he said, followed the acceptance by the
Saudi government to freely and openly discuss
outstanding issues with Nigeria.
“President Buhari, among other things, requested
the Saudis to conclude all issues with the Nigerian
Hajj Commission, such as the undetermined
outcome of their investigation into the stampede
at Muna last year, where our officials believe that
274 Nigerian lives were lost.
“There is also the case of compensation for six
Nigerians killed in the crane incident in the
precincts of the Kaaba and 35 others from the
stampede whose DNA profile is feared to be
missing.
“President Buhari equally charged the Ministry
and the NAHCON to seek a reduction of fees
associated with the Umrah Visa,” he said.
Among the 17 issues tendered at the initial
meeting between the officials of both countries,
Shehu said Nigeria appreciated the increase
offered for Umrah pilgrimage but asked that the
76,000 seats maintained for the Hajj be also
increased.
The meeting was said to have been led by
Nigeria’s Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Mrs.
Fatima Abba Ibrahim and Chairman of NAHCON,
Abdullahi Muhammed on the Nigerian side while
the Saudi side was led by their Minister of Hajj
Affairs, Dr.Bandar bin Muhammad al-Hajjar.
The two countries are expected to follow up on all
the issues in the coming weeks.
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