Saudi Hajj Minister Receives Moijue Kaikai
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Pilgrimage, Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar yesterday received Sierra Leone’s Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Honourable Moijueh Kaikai and team at the Hajj Ministry in down town Jeddah.
The minister was accompanied by a team comprising of Alhaji M.S Kargbo, Special Assistant to His Excellency the President on Political Affairs who also doubles as a senior member of the National Hajj Coordinating Committee and Dr. Ahmed Ramadan Jalloh, one of the senior Muslim scholars representing the Muslim community in Sierra Leone.
Moijue and team with Saudi Hajj minister
Welcoming the Sierra Leone delegation, the Saudi Minister praised President Koroma for sending Minister Kaikai to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj arrangements. He says that shows the importance the President attaches to the Muslim pilgrimage, (Hajj).
He stressed the depth of relationship and bonds of brotherhood between the two brotherly countries.
The Saudi Minister disclosed his ministry’s plans to the Sierra Leone delegation about this year’s Hajj season. He said to them that one of the plans the ministry is intending to implement is to create the digital information system, which will allow pilgrims access to all the services offered prior to their departure until returning back to their countries.
Moijue discussing Hajj matters with Saudi Hajj minister
He also said his government has embarked on major projects that seek to expand the area of the Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina to accommodate more pilgrims, adding that, the project in Mecca if completed before this year’s Hajj season will accommodate over four million Muslim worshippers at a time.
“The new design of the mosque will house other facilities around the area that include conference halls, residential buildings, command centers to control the flow of traffic, security and other services,” he said.
Responding, Minister Kaikai conveyed heartfelt greetings and felicitations from His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud his Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Kaikai expressed satisfaction with the relationship between the two countries, pointing out that, Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia started enjoying cordial relationship since both countries entered into diplomatic relations in the late 1970’s.
Moijue in warm handshake after signing with head of Saudi Hajj establishment
He also praised the Kingdom under the intellectual leadership of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for its care and attention to pilgrims in general and Sierra Leone pilgrims in particular as well as its facilities and achievements in Makkah, Madinah and all the holy sites which have enabled them to perform their rituals easily and comfortably over the years.
Minister Kaikai also praised the accomplishments of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the implementation of the large-scale expansion projects and provision of excellent services in Makkah, Madinah and all the holy sites.
Moijue signing Hajj contacts with Saudi Hajj authorities
The Sierra Leone head of delegation also commended the Saudi Government for improving and expanding “Jamaraat”, the area in which pilgrims perform the ceremonial stoning of the wall that symbolizes the Devil – a place he says was considered dangerous as many had been trampled to death in stampedes over the years.
Kaikai concluded by requesting kindly to his Saudi colleague to increase the quota allocation for his country from 750 pilgrims last year to 1,000 this year due to Sierra Leone’s large Muslim population – the request was graciously approved .
Moijue and team with Saudi Hajj authorities
In another engagement, the Minister and team were all also received by officials of the Establishment of Pilgrims from African and Non- Arab countries at Mecca on the same day.
In his welcome address, the head of Administration at the Establishment, Abdul Wahid Bin Burhan Saifudeen praised Sierra Leone pilgrims for their orderly conduct during past pilgrimages. He described them as “law abiding Muslims”.
The Sierra Leone delegation and senior officials of the Establishment also reviewed the 2012 hajj operations, signed the 2013 Hajj contracts and discussed the level of preparedness for this year’s Hajj season.
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