SOKOTO : The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency said it will commence airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj exercise on May 9.
Chairman of the Agency, Alhaji Aliyu Musa, disclosed this to newsmen while giving an update on preparations ahead of the airlift.
He stated that the Agency has already processed 2,500 visas out of the 2,860 registered pilgrims from the state.
“We have finalized arrangements with officials of Flynass Airlines, the airline responsible for airlifting intending pilgrims from the state to the holy land,” Musa said.
According to him, the total number of registered pilgrims from Sokoto State stands at 2,860, including some government officials.
He also revealed that this year’s pilgrims will be accommodated in the Masfala area of Makkah, a familiar location for most pilgrims from the states.
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“This year, the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency will adopt a system whereby intending pilgrims will pay their Hadaya in Naira before departure. This is to prevent pilgrims tampering with their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) while in Saudi Arabia, which is capped at 500 dollars,” he added.
He however called on intending pilgrims from the state to be good ambassadors and avoid anything that would tarnish the image of the state and the country while in the holly land.
