Aviation

2019 Hajj: Ilorin airport begins airlifting of 2, 000 Kwara intending pilgrims, Sunday 

 

Stories by Matthew Denis

Ilorin International Airport will commence airlifting of the first batch of 2, 000 intending Muslim pilgrims from Kwara State  Jeddah to perform the 2019 Hajj rites on Sunday.
The pilgrims will be airlifted by Max Air,  one of the popular airlines that for the yearly  hajj operations from Ilorin zone and other zones as delineated  by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the sensitisation exercise on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of Kwara State Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh  disclosed that NAHCON has given the board  tentative  flight schedules for the airlifting of Kwara pilgrims.
He said ” The first flight from Kwara, all things being equal will commence on the 14th July, 2019, while the second and third will come  sequentially on the 15th and 16th of July 2019. We hope that the last batch will also take place immediately.
” We have registered about 2, 000 pilgrims for this year hajj operations  and have so far  been able to obtained 1,520 visas for our pilgrims.
” The issuance of yellow cards is at 78 percent completion, which is at  advanced stage by the Port Health Agency. Also the BTA has reached advanced stage too. These are the necessary requirements to make the airlifting possible for the pilgrims,” he added.
The executive secretary further said  that the issue of biometric capturing has been suspended by NAHCON, stating  that the Saudi authority has stepped it down for now.
He said  the board has conducted a comprehensive medical screening , therefore he called on pilgrims to avoid carrying any contraband items like Kolanut and drugs that are prohibited by the Saudi Authority as their penalty is very stiff.
He explained that  the purpose of the sensitisation programme  is to teach the intending pilgrims how to perform hajj and Umrah.
“We are practically training them on ways to perform the hajj rites and we want the pilgrims to become conversant with the laws of Saudi Arabia so  as to be  good ambassadors of Nigeria when they get there,” he said.

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