No fewer than 425 intending pilgrims taking part in the Y2024 Hajj exercise through Lagos State have landed safely in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims on board a Flynas airline flight no. XY 8048 and registration no. PK – LEV which departed Nigeria at 5.47am today, with 202 males and 223 females, touched down at the King AbdulAziz International Airport, Madinah around 12.45 pm Saudi Arabian time. The arrival of the second batch has brought the total number of the state’s pilgrims already airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 850 so far.
The Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode who is also the State’s Amir-ul-Hajj was physically present at the Hadj camp, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to ensure that the pilgrims experienced stress-free and seamless airlifting exercise. He also distributed the Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) of 500 US dollars in cash to each of the pilgrims at the airport in fulfillment of the announcement made during the One-Day Seminar organised for them at De- Blue Roof, Lagos Television ( LTV) Agidingbi, Ikeja.
While addressing the intending pilgrims before departure, Hon. Layode who was accompanied by Prof. Kabir Paramole, a member of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board; Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede and other stakeholders, appealed to the Al-hujjaj to heed all the advises given them by the Board and othet stakeholders, especially on how to conduct themselves in a proper manner and shunning all illegal and prohibited items.
He also expressed his appreciation to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support towards a successful operation so far, while not forgetting the roles played by the stakeholders respectively.
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While wishing the pilgrims journey mercy, he prayed that Allah would accept all their efforts and supplications as act of Ibadah.
Recall that over 1,800 intending pilgrims registered with the state government to undergo the spiritual obligation. However, with the 850 already airlifted, the pilgrims yet to be airlifted by the state is over 1000 pilgrims.
In line with the airlifting schedule, there would be a brief break in the exercise for Lagos State in order to give room for other southern states’ pilgrims to be airlifted for the same purpose.
The exercise will resume on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 while it is expected to be concluded on or before Friday, May, 24, 2024 when all the state’s intending pilgrims and officials would have been completely airlifted to the Holy land for the Hajj rituals.
