Lagos State government has bid farewell to about two thousand intending pilgrims heading to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
The first batch of the intending pilgrims are expected to depart Lagos on Friday.
Speaking during the pre-departure seminar, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the patience and cooperation exhibited by the intending pilgrims since the beginning of the process.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Justice and and Attorney General, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), warned the state pilgrims to avoid engaging in money laundering, possession of illicit drugs and other social vices.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who implored them to be good Ambassador while in the Holy land also announced the payment of sacrifial lambs, monitisation of Hihram clothes for the pilgrims as well as payment for the visit to the historical sites (Ziharah) in Makkah.
“We have secured a befitting accommodation and necessary facilities for your comfort in Mecca.
The same arrangement is available at the plane of Arafat and they will be attended to by dedicated Medical team on their health challenges in the Holy land. While we can’t control the Hajj fees, we will prioritise your wellbeing. Lagos State has a well deserved reputation in Hajj operations and we are determined to sustain it with your cooperation. We will work hard with our team to provide for your comfort,” he said
Good Ambassadors
The Amir-Hajj and the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Layode, eulogised the intending pilgrims for choosing to go with Lagos State government while promising them of a memorable outing in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He urged them to be good ambassadors of Lagos and Nigeria, as reassured them of adequate attention throughout the Hajj exercise.
Also Read: Hajj 2024: Lagos Seeks Support of Port Health Service on Vaccination
Fulfilling Hajj
Special Adviser to Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Jebe Abdullahi said that the State government has raised the bar in the provision of better accomodation and welfare for the pilgrims, stressing that the 2024 exercise will be a memorable, refreshing and spiritual-filled moment for all the pilgrims.
He urged the intending pilgrims to corporate with the management team towards a fulfilling Hajj exercise.
Lifetime Journey
In his lecture, Chief Missioner Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo Branch Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Razaq Lukman, said that Hajj forms a critical pillar of Islam and it is a spiritual journey that encompasses the life of every Muslim that must be observed once in a lifetime.
The Cleric mentioned that every intending pilgrims must exhibit cooperation, love and unity among themselves and have fear of Allah, be patient, and cohabit peacefully with their brothers and sisters.
Familiarisation seminar
In a separate interview, the Chairman, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr Shakiru Gafar said that the whole essence of the one-day seminar is to further enlighten and familiarise the intending pilgrims on the purpose of the journey and to use the seminar as a climax to the training and workshop sessions already held at different engagement at local government levels.
He said, “Hajj is not a joke, because to put over eight million naira in a journey, you cannot afford to go and mess up the whole process. The pilgrims must adhere to the teachings that surround the entire operations and that is why we have organised the seminar for them.”
Representatives from the medical team, Nigeria Police, and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), among other stakeholders in the Hajj operations, took turns enlightening the intending pilgrims on what to do while on the holy land.
