The presidency has again warned intending Muslim pilgrims yet to depart for the 2016 Hajj exercise to resist the temptation of taking hard drugs to Saudi Arabia, reminding them that it attracts death penalty.
This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on foreign affairs and the Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued by her special assistant on media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
She lamented that despite repeated warnings and workshops for intending pilgrims, some Nigerians still contravene Saudi Arabia authorities’ law.
Dabiri-Erewa recalled that some Nigerians caught with hard drugs in the last few years are still currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, pleading with pilgrims to shun the shameful act.
She also reminded the pilgrims that kola nuts and prescription painkillers in large quantities have been banned in Saudi Arabia, and if found, attracts severe penalties according to new Saudi Arabia regulations.
The SSA assured that the federal government, through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, and various state boards have made adequate arrangements to attend to the medical needs of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
She also informed intending pilgrims that the Saudi authorities have free medical centres in all the nooks and crannies of the kingdom, equipped with all drugs for their medical needs.
Comments