HAJJ AND THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT:
TOWARDS A CLEAR AND SUSTAINABLE POLICY ON HAJJ-6

[ Preamble ]    [Hajj in West African History]   [Hajj and European Imperialism ]    [Hajj Policy in Independent Nigeria ]   [Towards a Clear and Sustainable Policy ]    [Concluding Remarks & References ]  Concluding Remarks This paper has attempted to address the policy of the Nigerian government on hajj. In doing so it has tried going some several centuries back, when the institution of hajj took roots in the West African region and then walking its way up to date. This is to enrich our appreciation of the place of hajj in the history of the region and provide us some background against which to see the policy of post independent Nigeria. It is the considered opinion of this paper that Nigerian government’s policy on hajj is to say the least ambivalent. Admittedly government itself has in recent years been plagued with instability and consumed by corruption. The ship of the nation has been adrift and the captains are too busy with internal bickering to bother about which port to sail to. And as it has been said if one does not know to which port one is sailing to, no winds are favourable. All the same, attempt has been made to raise those issues that appear to be germane to a clear and sustainable policy on hajj, for what they are worth. References: 1. See the key ayat of the Qur’an (22:26-33) 2. See for example the famous work of history by Muhammad Bello, Infaq al-Maysur fi Tarikh Bilad al-Tukrur and before him another famous biographical work on the Ulama’ of the West African region by Abubakr al-Bartali, titled Fath al- Shakur fi Ma’rifat A’yan Ulama’ al-Takrur. 3. Mansa Musa was reported to have travelled in a caravan of thousands of men and women from Mali to Walata, and from there through Tuat, Ghadames and Cairo. For detaila see Umar al-Naqr, The Pilgrimage Tradition in West Africa, Khatoum, Khartoum University Press, 1972. Pp. 11-17. 4. For details see Ibid. Pp. 18-25. 5. Ibid. P. 27. 6. See Ibid. P. 79-80. 7. See Ibid P. 37. 8. MSS avilable at the NHRS, History Department, A.B.U. Zaria. 9. See Shehu Usman’s Najm al-Ikhwan Yahtadun bihi ala Ahwal Haza al-Zaman, NHRS, A.B.U. Zaria 10. See Muhammad Bello, Risala ila ahl al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn wa ila ahl al-Mashriq the English translation of which appeared in Umar al-Naqr, The Pilgrimage Tradition in West Africa, Apendix I, Pp. 141-2. 11. See Umar al-Naqr, The pilgrimage Tradititon, P. 75. See also Abdullahi Smith, A Little New Light: Selected Historical Writings of Abdullahi Smith, Zaria, A.S.C.H.R. 1987. P. 140. 12. See Capt. G Callow’s ‘Notes on Muhammadanism’, SNP File 2/15/K2867, Arewa House, Kaduna. 13. The report was dated 17th July 1934. See SNP file 6/38/4681, Arewa House, Kaduna. 14. See ‘Journey to Sudan, Jeddah and Cairo, by Mr. G. J. Lethem, acting Secretary, Northern Provinces’ in SNP File 5/37/4678, (P. 7). Arewa House, Kaduna. 15. Ibid. P. 11-12. 16. See SNP File 40/345/26579, Arewa House, Kaduna. 17. Abdurrahman Mora (ed.) Abubakar Imam Memoirs, Zaria, NNPC, 1989. P. 191 18. For the full report, see Ibid. Pp. 196-203. 19. Ibid. P. 204. 20. Nigerian Pilgrim Board Decree 1975. It was signed by the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. 21. See Communique, National Conference on Hajj, in unpublished conference proceedings, at the Islamic Trust of Nigeria, Zaria. 22. Usman Bugaje, ‘Nigerian Government’s Hajj Policy’ in Z. Khan and Y. Zaki (eds.) Hajj in Focus, London, The Open Press, 1986. P. 118. 23. Dr. Yusuf Turaki, ‘An ethical Appraisal of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria’, in Today’s Challenge, March-April 1983. P. 12. 24. Nigerian Pilgrims Commission Decree 1989. This decree was signed by Gen. Ibrahim B. Babangida. 25. See A Study on Religious Disturbances in Nigeria, Jos, NIPSS Pp. 37. ISBN 978-198-013-3 26.Ibid. P. 7. 27.Ibid. 28.Dr. Suleiman Kumo, ‘Let’s Understand Our Differences’, Citizen, October, 12, 1992. P. 27. 29. J. Isawa Elaigwu, The Shadow of Religion on Nigerian Fedralism: 1960-93. NCIR Monograph Series No. 3. Abuja, National Council on International Relations, 1993. 30. Dr. Dahiru Yahya, ‘The problems of Corruption in Nigeria - Causes and Control: A Socio-Historical Perpective’, Unpublished Paper, presented to Public Lecture Series, Historical Society of Nigeria, Kano Branch, 11-13 April 1985. P. 15. 31.Ibid. 32. Plato, The Republic.