1st June, 2023
By Ibrahim G. Ahmad
The Zamfara Hajj Commission has airlifted 2,500 out of the 3,100 intending pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia in six flights.
Alhaji Anas Shuaibu, the Secretary of the commission, confirmed this to newsmen, after releasing six flights to Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.
Shuaibu stated that the committee had obtained visas for all 3,100 state-intentioned pilgrims, and that the remaining pilgrims will be airlifted to the holy region soon.
He further stated that the pilgrims had been informed of what was expected of them during the pilgrimage by the state government.
The secretary went on to say that each flight was made up of state Hajj authorities, medical personnel, scholars, and other stakeholders, and that each pilgrim had been vaccinated and females had been screened for pregnancy before leaving.
According to him, federal government agencies including as NDLEA, Immigration, and Customs have also educated pilgrims about the risks of carrying illegal items.
However, he revealed that only one woman was returned to Nigeria based on her passport issue, but she had returned to Madinah for the exercise after addressing her dispute.
He advised the prospective pilgrims to fear Allah in all their activities in the sacred land and beyond.
Shuaibu added that the state administration has done everything possible to protect the safety, comfort, and welfare of pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including providing adequate lodging in Madinah and Makkah.
As a result, he urged the pilgrims to be excellent ambassadors for the state and country by avoiding any actions that would tarnish their image or that of the nation.
Shuaibu stated that their current difficulty was the increase in petroleum prices, as they had to transport pilgrims from Gusau to Sokoto due to the state’s lack of an airport.
The scribe praised the efforts of the state government, security agencies, first aid groups, individuals, and other organisations in ensuring a smooth Hajj operation.
The six flights were captured on Thursday.
NAN