The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has warned pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia to resist any temptation to carry hard drugs to the holy land.
Speaking on the heels of the inaugural flight of intending pilgrims, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa reminded them that Saudi laws prescribe death penalty against such act.
In a statement by the NIDCOM Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission chairman said it was disheartening that some Nigerians still ran foul of Saudi Arabia authorities’ law, despite repeated warnings and workshops for intending pilgrims.
She recalled that some Nigerians caught with hard drugs in the last few years were still on death row in Saudi Arabia.
The NIDCOM chairman pleaded with pilgrims to shun the shameful act.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also reminded the pilgrims that kolanuts and prescription painkillers in large quantities have been banned in Saudi Arabia.
The commission chairman warned that if found on anyone, the offence attracts severe penalties according to new Saudi Arabia regulations.
She said the Federal Government, through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and various state boards, had made arrangements to attend to the medical needs of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
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