…board partners NDLEA, others to curb drug trafficking
By Matthew Denis
The Kwara State Government on Saturday began sensitization programme for the intending pilgrims of the 2019 Muslim hajj exercise to Saudi Arabia.
The Assistant Chief Imam of Ilorin, Imam Abdullahi AbdulHamid led the prayer session of the event which was held at the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ilorin.
AbdulHamid tasked the pilgrims to seek Allah’s intervention for a successful hajj rites and to also pray for peace and progress in the country.
Speaking with journalists, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh, said, “It has been the tradition of the board to educate our intending pilgrims especially the first timers on how to perform the hajj rites.
“We have invited Islamic scholars to guide them on how to perform hajj and umrah. We have the opportunity especially those of us that are coming from the African continent to perform hajj and umrah together that’s why we’re putting them through in order to equip them.
“We are enlightening the pilgrims on the existing laws especially the laws of Saudi Arabia where they are visiting that prohibits trafficking some items such as tramadol, kola nut among other substances.
“We want to also let them know that they should be good ambassadors of Nigeria therefore, they must possess a good attitude and present themselves in a manner to show that their trip is to achieve a spiritual obligation and in strengthening their faith in Allah.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary said that the Board will collaborate with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other stakeholders to check drug trafficking, especially among the 2019 intending Pilgrims from the state.
He said the Board has created a synergy with NDLEA, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) the Nigerian Immigration, Nigerian Customs Service and other stakeholders to curb drug trafficking to the holy land. He said the Saudi Arabian authority would not spare any pilgrims who indulged in such unholy act while in the holy land.
He advised the intending pilgrims from the state to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by shunning all negative tendencies that could spoil the image of the country.
Tunde-Jimoh also urged all intending pilgrims to ensure that they conducted themselves peacefully in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The enlightenment programme was attended by intending Pilgrims from across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Executive Secretary further stated that about 1,500 intending pilgrims have been registered in the state with 500 others still being expected to make the total 2,000 pilgrims.
Jimoh revealed that registration fee for the hajj exercise is N1.5 million as directed by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
He however said there have been no directives from NAHCON on the deadline for closure of the registration exercise.
According to him, as the month of Ramadan is fast approaching, the Saudi government will be rounding off the processes of issuing visa to intending pilgrims.The Executive Secretary said there is no new development in this year’s hajj activities aside the cancellation of the biometric capturing.
