Lagos begins airlifting of  Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia 4 August

The Lagos State Government says it will begin the airlifting of pilgrims to this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on 4 August, 2017.

A statement from the government said the the first set of pilgrims would depart on Med-view Airline on the said date in batches, with 680 pilgrims to depart on two planes.

On the second day, 5th August, 2017, a total of 1,195 pilgrims would be airlifted.

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Muftau Okoya, said that the airlifting would continue on 8 and 9 August, 2017 when intending pilgrims from Osun and Lagos States would be airlifted together until all the intending pilgrims from Lagos State had been taken to Saudi Arabia.

Okoya reiterated that arrangement had been concluded concerning medical screening, good accommodation, ambulance service, factory-fitted air conditioner buses, good catering services, inoculation, sensitization, distribution of bags, constitution of well qualified medical team and well trained committees and officials, as well as vast and God fearing Islamic scholars to enhance a successful hajj exercise.

Okoya said patronage had been very low this year as a result of lack of Hajj sponsorship by the three tiers of government, lingering economic recession, high exchange rate of dollar to naira and other economic indices.

He argued that government had been able to save millions of naira from holy pilgrimages sponsorship and that the money had been diverted into the development of basic infrastructural facilities, which are more beneficial to the general masses, adding that holy pilgrimage journey should be treated as personal affairs.

The Executive Secretary advised intending pilgrims to desist from carrying any banned items in their bags and baggage, warning that the state government would not encourage breakdown of laws and orders
either while in the country or in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“You should remember that you are individually and collectively representing Nigeria and Lagos in particular. So, remember to present yourself as good ambassadors of the State. Lagos is known for
excellence and this year must not be an exception”

Meanwhile, the government said intending pilgrims were expected to be ready for travelling by making sure that all necessary arrangements were made before the expected date.