Over 25,000 ad hoc workers have been mobilised by the Saudi Arabia authorities to ensure safety and comfort of pilgrims in Makkah just as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has airlifted over 8,000 pilgrims to the holy land within the last five days.
According to Gulf News and Arab News, this was revealed by the spokesman of Makkah Mayoralty, Osama Zaitouni.
He said the Holy Capital Secretariat had assembled a massive workforce to ensure overall well being of the pilgrims.
Gulf News stated: “In addition to its existing staff of 3,159 individuals, the secretariat has hired 22,000 personnel for the hajj season.
“This includes 14,000 employees of the sanitation contractor,3,600 members of staff of the contractors of operations, maintenance, lighting, cleaning facilities and slaughtering units, and 300 supporting members of the scouts.
“These forces will be stationed across 13 sub-municipalities, three subordinate municipalities, and 28 service centers in the holy sites.”
Government authorities in Makkah, according to Gulf News reports, assured that adequate hygiene measures had been put in place coupled with modern equipment and round-the-clock service to keep the areas clean.
Furthermore, the Makkah Mayoralty spokesman, Osama Zaitouni, said teams were on standby to respond to emergencies such as fire and heavy rains, adding that food safety teams were handy to ensure always the integrity of food items offered in markets, restaurants, food stores and catering services.
Zaitouni added that organised teams and committees were equipped with state-of-the-art mobile laboratories to analyse food and water samples, ensuring the safety of the items being traded and consumed.
Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has so far airlifted over 8,000 pilgrims to holy land within the last five days.
Pilgrims, numbering 429, from Ogun and Osun States, departed Lagos to Madinah last night aboard Flynas.