The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has promised that all carry-all luggage will arrive Nigeria before pilgrims leave Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to newsmen in Makkah on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Luggage Committee, Professor Muhammad Mustapha Gwadabe, gave the assurance as the second batch of Kaduna pilgrims arrive Nigeria.
The chairman assured pilgrims that adequate arrangements have been put in place to forestall the missing of luggage.
He said that officials of agency were already on ground to secure the luggage, advising that all pilgrims should collect their luggage personally.
According to him, luggage will not be given to third-parties and bulk clearance of luggage will not be allowed.
Explaining how the process works, Gwadabe said the luggage are first weighed in Makkah to ascertain that they comply with the 32 kilograms limit.
“Thereafter, the luggage will be tagged and the owner of the luggage will be given a card whose number and other details correspond with the tag.
“When he or she arrives the Mando Hajj Camp upon reaching Kaduna, he or she will present the card to the officials, who will fish it out and bring it to the owner.
“The officials will scrutinise the pilgrim’s passport to find out whether he or she was supposed to be on the flight in the first place.
“Thereafter, they will check his card to find out if the number and other security details correspond with the tag on the luggage.”
Gwadabe pointed out that there are also security officials like police, Civil Defence, Immigration and the Nigerian Customs Service to check against the importation of illegal items.
The chairman also disclosed that the luggage are usually stored in safe places, to shield them against the elements.
He added that pilgrims are usually advised to seal their luggage with adhesive tapes in Makkah, so as to protect them from possible rain in Nigeria.
The chairman advised pilgrims to stick to the weight limit of 32 kilograms, stressing that the agency will not convey any luggage that is above it.
