By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—Following the deportation of Nigerian female pilgrims to this year’s hajj over their failure to be accompanied by male companions, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has directed state Muslim Pilgrim Boards to strictly comply with Muharram requirements, according to an earlier circular issued to them.

NAHCON, in a statement by the Head of Media, Alhaji Uba Mana, in Abuja, yesterday, said all state Pilgrim Boards must comply fully with an earlier circular asking that all female pilgrims must be accompanied with their male relatives who must travel with them in the same flight.

It said: “We wish to use this medium to appeal to all state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to comply with the circulars earlier sent to them regarding the matching of female pilgrims with their appropriate Muharrams and ensure that they travel together in the same flight.”

Eight flights carrying 3,786 pilgrims have been airlifted to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj, after the resolution of the issue of Muharram, male accompaniment, of female pilgrims.

According to the commission, the operations have been smooth and all pilgrims were allowed entry into the kingdom, except 50 who didn’t have proper documentation.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria is pleased to inform the general public that since the resumption of Hajj flights of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday September 30th,  a total of eight flights have been operated conveying 3,786 pilgrims to the holy land.

“This success was recorded largely as a result of the directive given to state pilgrims’ welfare boards/agencies, to ensure that only female pilgrims that have the appropriate Muharram are boarded,” the statement added.