Saudi Prince, Khaleed Bn Abdullah, today expressed regrets over the recent stampede during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia that led to the death of over 700 pilgrims.
About 75 of the deceased were Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja when a delegation of the Parliamentary Advisory Council of Saudi Arabia visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly, the Saudi prince assured the Speaker that his country would put in more efforts to ensure that such avoidable incidents were contained.
He commiserated with Nigeria over the loss of lives resulting from attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, particularly last week’s bomb attacks in Nyanya and Kuje, both satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The painful incident that happened during hajj is regrettable. Also, we condole with the victims of the Nyanya and Kuje bombings.
“The Kingdom of Saudi will not stop to put in efforts to ensure a hitch-free hajj experience for pilgrims worldwide,” he stated.
He told Dogara that Saudi Arabia would treat issues involving Nigeria seriously, being a leader on the African continent.
The prince called for increased bilateral ties between the two countries.
Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Abdallah, was on the delegation.
Dogara on his part, urged the authorities in Saudi Arabia to improve on their crowd control strategies during the annual hajj rite.