Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — Over 500 prominent members of the Nigerian community residing in Makkah province have pledged to cooperate with government agencies to maintain law and order and spread security awareness among the African communities in general. They also pledged to cooperate with the police to get rid of all negative practices that some African communities resort to. Officials at the Nigerian Consulate General responded to the call of head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' branch in Makkah province, Muhammad Tayib, to respect the law and iqama regulations. The official called on the Nigerian community to cooperate with the government and people of the Kingdom and spread a culture of respecting the law among members of the African community. The meeting, which was held at Al-Safwa wedding hall in Al-Tindbawi district, is the first of its kind between a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official and members of the Nigerian community residing in Makkah province. It was held in the presence of Col. Talal Sultan Musaed Al-Abdali, Nigerian Consul General Ahmad Omar and other senior officials of the Nigerian Consulate and members of the community. The meeting came out with a number of recommendations to extend bridges of cooperation between security authorities and officials. The objective was also to make them understand that implementing the law is meant to protect them as well as the security of the nation, citizens, expatriates, visitors and pilgrims. The representatives of the districts where members of this community were dwelling expressed their readiness to convey the message and urge people to cooperate and avoid all kinds of violations, including begging and hawking in the street. Religious preacher Mousa Abdullah Hausawi stressed the necessity to protect the sanctity of the holy land and not commit violations. He explained the goals of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sayings and urged the community to implement the regulations and comply with them. Consul General Omar and the other officials welcomed Tayib. Omar expressed thanks and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his generous and continuous efforts to serve Islam and Muslims. He mentioned that the expansion projects at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah are meant to help facilitate Umrah and Haj pilgrims to perform their rites. He also said the Nigerian community appreciates the gesture to grant expatriates a grace period to rectify their status if they are working illegally. He thanked the emirs of Makkah and Madinah provinces for the care the Nigerian community residing in the Kingdom received. On behalf of the Nigerian community, he thanked Tayib for his continuous cooperation and efforts to spread a culture of respect to the law. He called on members of the Nigerian community to comply with the Kingdom's laws and regulations. Tayib said the grace period of three months was to enable expatriates to rectify their status and intended to safeguard the dignity of the weak and poor and those who were lured into violating iqama regulations. Tayib said the grace period was meant to protect the interests of expatriates besides the security of the Kingdom and its citizens.
