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Ebola: Pilgrims Asked To Submit To Screening Measures In Saudi

Pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj exercise have been advised to submit to Ebola Virus Disease screening exercise and any security measure … Continue reading Ebola: Pilgrims Asked To Submit To Screening Measures In Saudi


hajjPilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj exercise have been advised to submit to Ebola Virus Disease screening exercise and any security measure when they arrive at Saudi.

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-makura, gave the advice at a ceremony organised to flag-off the exercise ahead of the pilgrims air lifting in Lafia.

Governor Al-makura urged the pilgrims to exercise restraints and caution in the foreign country.

The government and the people of Nasarawa State have high expectations from the pilgrims while on the holy land, but the major concern is for the pilgrims to intercede for peace in the state.

The Nasarawa State Muslim Welfare Board told reporters on Monday that adequate security and health measures were in place for this year’s Hajj exercise.

The board chairman, Sani Bawa and some of the pilgrims said they were adequately prepared for some of the risk behaviours and how to avoid harmful health and spiritual practices.

“Both security and health measures have been adequately covered for us to enjoy a hitch free exercise,” Mr Bawa said.

A pilgrim, Maryam Umar, said she was confident that the pilgrims would conduct themselves well in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage, stressing that the pilgrims were aware of the possible Ebola Virus Disease screening that they could be made to undergo in Saudi.

As excited as the men and women seem about their participation in this year’s Hajj, concerns among the pilgrims have been high with the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a development that has resulted in stringent screening exercises for Nigerians at the port of entry into some foreign country.