Lagos Airlifts 1,353 Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has successfully airlifted 1,353 pilgrims on four flights from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to participate in this year’s hajj exercise.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Amir Ul-Hajj, 2017, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul-Lateef while giving an update on this year’s hajj operations.

According to him, the pilgrims had been successfully housed in their respective hotels in Medina and activities of the holy pilgrimage have commenced in earnest.

He pointed out that pilgrims from other continents could not hide their feelings in view of the way Nigerian pilgrims had conducted themselves during their visit to the prophet’s Mosque and other important places that form part of the hajj exercise.

Abdul-Lateef advised the pilgrims not to hold items on behalf of any other pilgrim, adding that the punishment for drug trafficking in the Middle East was death.

“Drugs could be hidden in onions, dry red chilies, drink cans and other unsuspecting items”, he said.

He explained that the pilgrims had begun visitation to historical sites in Medina, saying that some of the places visited included Masjid Nabawi (Prophet Mosque), Raudotul Jannah, the site of the graves of prophet Muhammed, Abu Bakr and Umar.

Lagos Pilgrims are currently receiving lectures and sensitization at designated hotels on the importance of Zihara in the course of performing hajj.