As the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) commenced its inaugural flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj exercise, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has urged pilgrims from the State to pray fervently for peace, prosperity and unity of the nation.
The Emir noted that this year’s hajj exercise is unique and significant in the lives of every participant due to the health challenges orchestrated by the Covid-19 outbreak globally in the last two years.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, wished all Nigerian pilgrims a successful journey to the holy land and charged them to be good ambassadors of the state.
According to him, “Covid-19 outbreak had in the last two years wreaked serious havoc globally which was also responsible for the cancellation of hajj operations for two consecutive years respectively.
“May Almighty Allah restore absolute peace and comforts globally and accept all your supplications while in the holy land as well as give you sound health to complete all the required obligations in line with the dictates of Allah and teachings of Prophet Muhammad .”
The Emir, however, commended the leadership of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Kwara State Government for their commitments to ensuring a hitch-free Hajj exercise despite all odds.
Dominica Nwabufo
