The Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, has said that all the 4,785 pilgrims from the state have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia in 10 flights, for the 2024 pilgrimage.
Speaking with news men at Madina on Thursday, Malam Salihu disclosed that Kaduna State has the largest number of pilgrims in Nigeria, adding that nine batches have already completed their Hajj rites in Madina and have proceeded to Makkah.
The chairman further said that the last batch, which comprised of the Amirul Hajj, the Emir of Lere, Engr Suleiman Lere, arrived Madinah with other Hajj officials on Tuesday.
According to him, the last batch will leave for Makkah on Saturday, leaving behind a handful of officials to check hospitals and other places, to ensure that no pilgrim has been left behind in Madinah.
‘’Each batch of pilgrims has stayed for four days in Madina as arranged by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON),” he said, adding, “The first nine batches have completed their stay and moved to Makkah.
“It’s only those that came with the last flight of 388 pilgrims, which included the Amirul Hajj, that are in Madina. Inshaa Allah (God willing), they will be conveyed to Makkah on Saturday.
‘’So far, we don’t have any major problem. But we regret to say that we lost one pilgrim in Makkah last Friday. We pray that Aljannah Firdausi be her abode.’’
Malam Salihu said that some pilgrims have fallen ill in both Makkah and Madina but most of them have been treated and discharged.
The chairman, who noted that the responsibility of feeding and accommodating pilgrims at Madina rests on the NAHCON, commended the Hajj regulatory body for the services rendered.
He said that Kaduna State pilgrims in Makkah have so far not complained about the service providers that the agency has engaged for catering and accommodation.
He said that his agency has come with officials who are learned in all aspects of Hajj, who will serve as guides to the pilgrims, to enable them perform the pilgrimage as laid out in Islam.
‘’All our pilgrims had been encouraged to attend all our sensitisation lectures and programmes that were held at various centres, which covered the entire Kaduna State, before the commencement of Hajj. Alhamdu lillah, the exercise went on very well.
‘’But enlightenment and guidance is a continuous exercise. It is continuing here in Madina and Makkah and throughout the Hajj, until the pilgrims depart the Holy Land and land in Nigeria.”
