Nigerian Ambassador Abdullah Aminchi and the consul general, along with officials of the non-Arab African Country Haj Establishment, received the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims when they arrived here earlier this week. Aminchi said that there was no move to reduce the number of Nigerian pilgrims coming for Haj this year as a precaution against swine flu. “Some 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims will perform Haj this year,” the Arabic Daily Al-Watan quoted the ambassador as saying. The ambassador also said that his government is committed to the Haj quota adding that the pilgrims will undergo all the necessary health procedures. He said that the pilgrims have been given detailed instructions with regard to swine flu and how to take precautions to avoid contracting the disease. “Apart from the federal capital of Abuja, the pilgrims are coming from 36 states in the country,” Abdul Wahed Saiduddine, head of the Board of the Establishment, said. Saiduddine said that his Establishment has completed all preparations to host the Nigerian pilgrims. He also wished the Nigerian guests of Allah a rewarding stay in the Kingdom and a safe return to their country.
