Saudi authorities ban Nigerian pilgrims from bringing kolanuts with them on hajj pilgrimage

SAUDI Arabia has banned Nigerian pilgrims going on the annual hajj from taking kolanuts with them saying it breaches laid down rules and regulations as the delicacy is on a list of prohibited items.

 

Annually, about 70,000 Nigerians go on the religious pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, making them one of the largest national contingents. Over the years, however, Nigerian pilgrims have given the Saudi Arabian authorities all sorts of problems as several have been involved in drug peddling and hundreds of prostitutes are also sent to the holy land.

 

In the latest twist, the Saudi's have written to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (Nahcon) telling it that kolanuts are on a list of banned items. According to Nahcon, the Saudi government has threatened to punish any pilgrim who smuggles kolanuts in during hajj in accordance with the laws of the kingdom. 

 

Nahcon urged states Muslim pilgrims' welfare board, agencies, commissions and licensed tour operators to properly enlighten their pilgrims on the matter. Nahcon has also said it would sanction any pilgrim boards, agency, commission or tour operators which flouts the instruction.

 

Meanwhile, Nahcon has commenced the capturing of data of intending pilgrims for the issuance of 2016 hajj visa. According to the commission, data of a total number of 15,531 pilgrims has so far been captured.