THE Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bostaji, has commended the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) for its effective coverage of last year’s hajj exercise and thanked other media organisations for exhibiting professionalism in their reportage of hajj and umrah matters in Nigeria and in the holy land.
Bostaji gave the commendation at the 2019 Hajj Excellence Awards organised by IHR, which was held last week in Abuja.
The diplomat also praised the Federal Government for its cooperation and support for his country which he particularly attributed to the successes recorded in hajj operations over the years.
Bostaji also commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) under the leadership of its acting chairman, Alhaji Abdullah Mukhtar Muhammad, as well as other hajj administrators and stakeholders in the country.
He promised the Saudi Embassy’s continued delivery of effective diplomatic services to Nigerians, particularly on hajj and umrah so as to make the sacrifices of the partakers towards the attainment of Allah’s pleasure and blessings worthwhile.
Earlier, the national coordinator of IHR, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed, noted that the not-for-profit organisation comprised Muslim journalists working to enlighten Nigerian Muslims on how to carry out a significant pillar of Islam – hajj.
He said the organisation would not shirk its responsibility of drawing the attention of hajj administrators, service providers, officials and other stakeholders to identified challenges and flaws.
He said the event was organised to celebrate hajj stakeholders who “exceptionally” added value to hajj operations in various ways in 2019.
Muhammed said the awards were aimed at engendering healthy competition within the hajj service delivery circle for the benefit of pilgrims and the Muslim ummah in general.
He expressed the hope that the wards would challenge the recipients to continue to render quality services to our hajj pilgrims.