Oyo Assembly Urges Pilgrims Welfare Board on Hitch-free Hajj Exercise

The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, to ensure a smooth 2023 Hajj operation in Saudi Arabia.

This is just as the Legislature expressed its readiness to work and collaborate with the Board for better services.

The Speaker, of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, made the call at a meeting with the Chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, Prof. Sayed Malik, at the Conference Hall of the Assembly.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi, the Speaker said the meeting was necessary to enable the Board to brief the Legislature on her level of preparedness for the 2023 Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia.

He said the engagement was also meant to inquire about the plan for about 150 intending Oyo State Pilgrims who could not participate in the 2022 hajj exercise, from the leadership of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing.

Earlier, in his briefing, the Chairman, Prof Sayed Malik, informed the legislature that everything was set for the 2023 hajj operation in the holy land.

Responding to the plan for the 150 Oyo State Pilgrims who could not perform last year’s hajj, Prof Malik assured that they would be the first set of pilgrims to be considered for the hajj exercise this year.

The Chairman disclosed that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOM) had increased the slots for Oyo State to 1,500.

He, therefore, announced that about 100 slots were still available for interested pilgrims who wish to perform the spiritual exercise with the Board.

Prof Malik further hinted that the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, would continue to set the pace, adding that the Board would refund whatever money that is left for the pilgrims after any hajj operation to them just as it did in 2019 and 2022.

The Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Islamic Affairs, Imam Rasheed Abdul Azeez, commended the leadership of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, for being truthful and transparent in its dealings with intending pilgrims.