The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for taking swift response and action in rescuing Nigerians pilgrims from their hotel razed by fire.

The committee gave the commendation in a statement by NAHCON’s Principal Information Officer, Shafi’i Muhammad, in Makkah on Tuesday.

Mr Muhammad said the committee, led by Senator Ali Ndume, paid a visit to Imaratus Sanan hotel where a fire incident occurred on June 7.

Others on the tour were senators Sahabi Ya’u, Sharafadeen Ali and Abdulhamid Ahmad.

The NAHCON information officer said the Senate contingent was received at the site of the incident on Shari Mansur Street, by the NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman.

“The NAHCON chairman was accompanied by the Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof. Abubakar Yagawal. He conducted the delegation round the site and briefed the committee on the incident, and the swift measures taken by NAHCON to immediately relocate the affected pilgrims.”

Speaking during the visit, Mr Ndume stated, “We are here to see for ourselves the unfortunate incident that occurred and to be briefed on steps taken to address the situation.”

Mr Ndume commiserated with victims of the fire outbreak and thanked Allah that there was no life lost.

He also appreciated the swift response and action taken by NAHCON while thanking the chairman for his leadership.

He said the visit was to commiserate with the pilgrims and inquire about their wellbeing.

The pilgrims on ground appreciated NAHCON for making them comfortable, following the misfortune.

A pilgrim expressed concerns on how to retrieve his documents that were burnt.

To this, Mr Sahabi directed that the commission should prepare a report on the incident which would subsequently, be used by the pilgrims to obtain police report and also new copies of their lost documents and property on return to Nigeria.

Earlier, the leadership of tour operators affected by the fire incident in Shari Mansur district of Makkah, paid the NAHCON boss a thank you visit in appreciation of the commission’s quick intervention on the disaster.

The affected tour operators are Arafat Air services, Moslima Tours, Az hab Travels, Danbare Travel and Tours, Amami, and Murna companies.

Led by Chairman of the Arafat Travels, AbdulAzeez Shabitu, who disclosed that six rooms were completely burnt while 120 rooms were partially affected.

Others in the entourage were Abdul Razak Zakari of Nusra Travels, Aminu Musa of Amami Travels, Misbahuddeen Yahaya Murna eand AbdulRazak Ibrahim of Moslima.

Mr Shabitu thanked the Almighty Allah that no live was lost in the inferno.

Responding, Mr Usman assured the pilgrims of the commission’s readiness to assist them.

He stated that there was no need to thank him, saying that “the commission is only carrying out a statutory obligation and responsibility of providing efficient and effective service to the pilgrims.”

He commiserated with the tour operators on their misfortune but thanked Allah for sparing human lives.

(NAN)