The first and second batches of pilgrims from Kwara State have arrived safely in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, for the 2026 Hajj exercise
The first batch, comprising 374 pilgrims, was airlifted aboard a MaxAir flight from the General Tunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, departing at exactly 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Reports further indicated that the second batch of 556 pilgrims also departed Ilorin aboard another MaxAir flight at about 2:00 a.m. on Thursday.
With the successful airlift of the two batches, a total of 930 intending pilgrims from Kwara State have so far been transported to Saudi Arabia for this year’s pilgrimage.
READ ALSO: NAHCON Begins 2026 Hajj Airlift Operations
The Chairman of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Professor Moshood Jimba, expressed satisfaction with the smooth coordination of the exercise, assuring that adequate arrangements had been put in place for the remaining pilgrims.
The state government on Wednesday flagged off the 2026 Hajj exercise with the successful airlift of the first batch of 374 pilgrims, accompanied by two officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and one state official.
A total of 1,714 pilgrims from the state are expected to participate in the 2026 Hajj exercise.
The pilgrims departed the General Tunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a MaxAir flight, which took off at about 3:00 p.m. en route to Madinah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
While bidding the pilgrims farewell, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq urged them to conduct themselves properly in the holy land and represent the state and Nigeria honourably during their pilgrimage.
“Our message to pilgrims from Kwara State this year centres on the need for them to behave as good representatives and ambassadors of Kwara State in particular and Nigeria in general, and to make sure they comply with all the laws and regulations of the host country, Saudi Arabia,” AbdulRazaq said.
Represented by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Saadu Salaudeen, the governor urged the intending pilgrims to pray for peaceful coexistence in the country and in Kwara State in particular.
The governor emphasised the need for all pilgrims to comply with the laws and regulations of Saudi Arabia and to heed the directives of officials.
“We advise all of them to make sure they listen to the directives of Amirul Hajj, our father, His Royal Highness the Etsu Tsaragi, who is the Amirul Hajj for this year, leading the delegation, and all the officials of the Kwara State Pilgrims Board,” the governor advised.
AbdulRazaq prayed to Allah to grant them a hitch-free Hajj and looked forward to their safe return to Kwara State.
For his part, the State Amirul Hajj and Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, promised to ensure the welfare of the pilgrims in line with the commitment made to the state government.
“I want to reiterate that when His Excellency announced my appointment as the leader of the delegation from the state, being Amirul Hajj, I made a pledge before him that we are not going to let him down, and Insha Allah we are going to perform the roles that we are assigned to perform. We will make sure that Kwara pilgrims have the best this year, and Insha Allah we are going to take care of their well-being over there,” the Amirul Hajj promised.
Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, applauded AbdulRazaq for approving all the board’s requests to ensure adequate care for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
“They will be going to Madinah straight away. We have our officials going with them; not only officials, we have medical doctors and nurses going with them, to ensure they are well taken care of.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Jimba, told VON that all the pilgrims who had so far departed were hale and hearty, disclosing that the third batch was expected to be airlifted by midnight today (Thursday).
