The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called on the intending Hajj pilgrims from the state to be good ambassadors, just as he announced a gift of $100 each to them.
He made the call on Thursday while bidding farewell to the fifth batch of the 2024 intending pilgrims, at the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin.
About 3,102 pilgrims from the state are performing holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year.
The governor, during his visit on Thursday, recalled some hitches recorded during last year’s Hajj operation and commended President Bola Tinubu for putting in place necessary measures to improve the exercise this year.
“You can see that the pilgrims are happy. There is a huge improvement. I would like to thank the Federal Government for the improvement of the airport.
“The airfield lightning is back and better. Last year, our pilgrims had to fly through Lagos because facilities were not in place. This flight is going directly to Saudi Arabia”, he said.
AbdulRazaq, after announcing the gift of $100 each to the intending pilgrims, promised that the state government would continue to support the board for a smooth hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Prof Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, said AbdulRazaq had been supportive towards the success of all the programmes and activities of the board.
The Executive Secretary, Alhaji AbdulSalam Abdulkadir, advised the intending pilgrims from the state to abide by the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia and that of the hajj activities.
Speaking after the departure, the Public Relations Officer, Jumoke Jimoh, said the fifth batch of 350 intending pilgrims from the state boarded Air-Peace Airline and departed to Saudi Arabia at 11.18 am on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the governor of Sokoto state, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, while addressing the pilgrims before their departure at the Airport, said his administration had given the sum of 1,000 Saudi Riyadh to each of the pilgrims in order to ensure the state pilgrims experience successful Hajj operations this year.
“I have the pleasure to declare that a modest endowment of 1000 Saudi Riyals will be bestowed upon each pilgrim from our state as a gesture of support and Goron Sallah.
“This contribution is intended to aid them during the observance of the sacred Hajj rites. It is my sincere supplication that the Almighty Allah endows our pilgrims with good health and the requisite strength to fulfil the Hajj obligations with devotion.
“I extend my heartfelt wishes for a journey that is both safe and free from any undue hardship”, Aliyu Sokoto prayed.
