The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, has secured visas for all the remaining pilgrims travelling with the board to Saudi Arabia from the state for this year’s pilgrimage.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abdulkadir AbdulSalam confirmed this to Voice of Nigeria’s correspondent during an interview.
This development has partially doused the fear, agitation and tension by the pilgrims yet to be airlifted to the holy land from Kwara State that they might not participate in the 2023 Hajj exercise.
Abdulkadir disclosed that 1,597 pilgrims had already been airlifted and are presently in Mecca performing the Hajj rites while the 1,953 are waiting for their turn.
According to him, out of the remaining pilgrims, twenty-four joined Ekiti State contingents earlier today (Sunday) to balance their flight while hopefully, more will still be airlifted on Sunday night.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has made arrangements to deploy airlines that have completed the airlifting of their pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to other states that have flight delay or hitches for prompt transportation.
Read Also: 2023 Hajj: Kwara state airlifts 1,598 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia
According to him, Air Peace was originally scheduled to airlift pilgrims from Gombe, but due to unforeseen challenges, Aero Airline had been redeployed to airlift the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
He therefore urged the remaining pilgrims from the state to be patient and calm as they would all be airlifted before the deadline given to Nigerian pilgrims by the Saudi Authority.
According to him, the pilgrims from the state are doing well in the holy land and performing the Hajj rites while they are all hale and hearty.
Speaking in the same vein, this year’s Amirul Hajj for the state who is also the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Umar Bologi said the government has put in place all facilities to ensure that the exercise is hitch free.
According to him, hopefully by tomorrow (Monday), the flight schedule for the remaining pilgrims would be clearer and the airlifting would commence in earnest as their visas have been secured.
The Amirul Hajj who commended the state governor, Malam AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq for his concern and release of logistics for the pilgrims, disclosed that some state officials and medical team were already with the state pilgrims in the holy land.
The Etsu Patigi confirmed that there is no case of arrest or casualty on the part of the state pilgrims and further implored them to be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large and continue to pray for the leaders and for peace to reign supreme in the country and the entire universe.
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