Hajj: Experience of FCT fourth flight
On getting to the airport, we were all happy hoping to leave within the shortest time because the airline (MaxAir) whose ticket we were all carrying was on ground. But it became worrisome to us when hours were flying past without anyone addressing us or asking us to join the queue. Alas we sighted the […]
On getting to the airport, we were all happy hoping to leave within the shortest time because the airline (MaxAir) whose ticket we were all carrying was on ground. But it became worrisome to us when hours were flying past without anyone addressing us or asking us to join the queue. Alas we sighted the FCT Amirul hajj (Emir of Jiwa) I don’t know his name, by then about 3 or 4 NTA crew members were there and he was being interviewed by them where he gave them the assurance that we would be leaving in a short while. Of course, that made us happy and gave us high hopes.
There came the hour of rage and anger around 8pm or there about when the aeroplane was switched on and everybody thought that finally, we were leaving, as the aeroplane was warming its engine. However, the excitement was cut short when the aircraft took off and flew away into the air. Guess what? By then there was no single official on ground either to address us or to brief us. We were all left there like fools. We would have left but nobody knew anything, one might leave and the aeroplane might come back later in the middle of the night, that was how we ended up sleeping in the open air at the airport. Well, I was lucky enough to hijack one of the iron seats inside the waiting hall to myself where I ended up falling asleep.
However, without any apologies we were lucky to leave the next day which was Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at precisely 11:30am. Alhamdulillah we got to Mecca and were kept in good accommodation not too far from Haram.
On the 14th of November, 2010, we were taken to Mina in preparation for Hajj proper, conveyance of pilgrims was fair enough because they made sure all pilgrims were transported. However, the good gesture started and ended there. Chapter 2 of the suffering began. Some of the pilgrims were unlucky not to have slept inside the tents made available at Mina (lets have it in mind that these people paid like every other pilgrim) but surprisingly FCT had two tents allocated to international pilgrims.
The following day was the Arafat day which meant that pilgrims were to be transported there as well. Announcement was made as early as possible that as soon as the cars came, we would be called upon. But people started getting anxious when the state opposite us (Katsina) was busy transporting its pilgrims and the FCT had nothing to show. They later announced that the cars were held up in traffic and that we should be patient that was when almost everyone came out of their tent and was curious because time was going, some went on foot for those of us who initially believed the announcement and lost hope. We walked to the main street where most of the vehicles were parked and struggled our way into the cars around 11:50am.However, we were meant to understand that the vehicles were meant for other states/countries, but who cared? We all indiscriminately entered from different states. I finally got to Arafat around 1pm. To cut the story short, we were meant to understand just about three vehicles transported FCT pilgrims.
Poor us, transportation became hot cake later in the evening. Responsible men were climbing on top of cars just to get to Muzdalifa in good time, as for the women, if you can struggle with the men so be it, if not you are on your own. It was hell. I must confess it was as if the entire African continent was affected by the transportation modalities when it came to leaving Arafat for Muzdalifa. A lot of people trekked. We thank God for all but I fear that a lot of people didn’t get to Arafat at the right time neither did they get to Muzdalifa in good time.
Hajj, came and it was over. After the hajj almost everybody wanted to go back home and here comes the chapter 3 of our dilemma. Oh, I forgot to tell you that we didn’t get to go to Medina before coming to Mecca. We were meant to understand that the Saudi government restricted movement into Medina as at the time we left Nigeria to Saudi. We left for Medina on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 and that we would leave for Nigeria on Sunday, December 5, 2010 as per the flight timetable.
We left Medina for Jeddah on Saturday around 1pm because we were told to vacate the house we were lodged in exactly 12pm. (meaning our rent don expire). We arrived Jeddah airport around 9pm. Well, we all tried to get little space to put our heads on the bare cold open space. Dear, Sunday came with the hope that we would leave, but surprisingly, we didn’t even move an inch while our counterparts from other states didn’t even spend up to five hours on arrival before departing to Nigeria. There was no announcements, no officials and no Amirul hajj to tell us anything. In the evening of Sunday, the men decided they must do something to get the attention of either the airport authorities or the hajj officials. Well, they were lucky to get the attention of one of the flight officials (MaxAir), personally I was not part of the beginning of the discussion but I met the crowd midway around 1am. The official was a white man. “I told your officials not to bring my passengers until I confirm an available aircraft on ground, but I was surprised when I was told that my passengers were on ground this afternoon. The aircrafts were being alternated between the states and the FCT had non for that day, but wallahi I promise you if anyone comes, I will make sure you all go.”
What else can we say or do but to get a place and sleep for those of us who could sleep. Some of us cried while some stayed awake all night. Luck came to us the following day around 11am when we were asked to queue up for us to be screened that there was a flight for us.
All agents concerned checked our passports and necessary documents before we were finally screened on individual basis. I was the last on the female queue and as such, I really took notice of something, the officials were in the forefront. The female officials were the first two on the female queue to be screened. After female pilgrims were completed and they started with the males, guess what happened! 15 male pilgrims were cut off on whose instruction I don’t know. That tells us why the officials were in the forefront to be screened because they knew about the whole gist. That was how we left these people, I really felt for them. 15 male and a female who refused to join us because her husband was part of those cut off.
In my opinion, I feel these people were cut off because people who were meant to be on other flights were put in our flight because it was the same aircraft.
Please for the sake of all the FCT 4th flight pilgrims, I personally wish to know who is responsible for the welfare of FCT pilgrims, why do officials abscond in times of need, why are there no proper means or channels of communication, who is doing his job and who is not doing his job. When will they apologise to us?
Aisha Shehu Ahmed wrote from Abuja