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January 11, 2006
Apology for Nigeria's Hajj chaos
Nigeria's president has apologised to his country's Muslims after thousands were left stranded at airports last week unable to attend the annual Hajj.
President Olusegun Obasanjo blamed the firm that had been given the contract to provide the planes.
He said insurance regulations had prevented the use of military planes.
Over 4,000 pilgrims did not reach Jeddah airport by last Friday's deadline set by Saudi authorities, which had been extended by 36 hours.
The president revealed that he had appealed to the Saudi royal family for the airport to be kept open, but it had turned down his request
After a plane load of Nigerian pilgrims were turned back in Saudi airspace on Friday morning, people at airports across the country were told by officials to go home and make the pilgrimage next year instead.
'No knowledge'
"My apology goes to them [who missed the Hajj] on behalf of all of us, and those people who are involved in this because it should never have happened," he said, This Day newspaper quoted him as saying on Tuesday.
He said the contract for the airlifting of Hajj pilgrims was awarded to a concern that had "no knowledge of aviation matters".
Many airlines had refused to take part in the airlift to Mecca, saying the fees offered by the Nigerian organising authorities did not cover their costs.
The president said a lasting solution to the problem needed to be found, as it happened most years.
"Indonesia sent three times the number we sent and it was organised orderly, so also Palestine and Bangladesh. How did they do it?" he said, Nigeria's Guardian newspaper reported.
It costs between $1,000 to $2,500 to make the pilgrimage to Mecca from Nigeria and many Nigerians spend their life savings on the trip.
Every year about 2m Muslims converge on Mecca - the holiest place in Islam - for the Hajj.
Every adult Muslim is supposed to undertake the Hajj at least once in their life if they can afford it and are physically able.
Posted by Publisher at January 11, 2006 12:42 PM
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