Lagos airlifts another 383 Hajj intending pilgrims to Madinah
Omeiza Bilal
In continuation of the ongoing airlifting exercise, the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has airlifted another 383 intending pilgrims to Madinah for the 2025 Holy pilgrimage exercise.
The pilgrims who were aboard a FLYNAS Airbus A330-300 with registration number XY8412, departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on Tuesday, May 13 at exactly 5.47 pm Nigerian time with 176 males and 207 females.
The flight which is the second from Lagos State also has on board some members of the Central Working Committee (CWC) for 2025 Hajj operations, medical personnel and ccordinators amongst other officials. Report has it that the first flight landed safely at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, in the early hours of Tuesday.
Recall that the Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs/Amir-ul-Hajj, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, announced at a One-Day Seminar held at De-Blue Roof last Sunday, that a total of 1,432 intending pilgrims would embark on the sacred journey from the State. Thus, with the second flight, the State has airlifted a total of 771 intending pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
While addressing the intending pilgrims before departure, the Amir-ul-Hajj reminded them of the largesse promised them by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu concerning their welfare. He stressed that necessary steps have been taken to fulfill the promises which included payment for their Ihram clothing, Hadiya (sacrificial ram), Ziyarah (visitation to historical sites both in Makkah and Madinah), amongst others.
He also led the distribution of the 500 US dollars Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to each of the intending pilgrims aboard the flight at the airport, saying that the distribution of the BTA was a sign that other promises made by the Governor would be fulfilled.
Layode urged them to remember our beloved country Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat whilst praying for themselves and their families.
According to the schedule for the airlifting exercise, Lagos State will have a break on Wednesday while the exercise would resume on Thursday, May 15, for the third flight.
State Government functionaries present at the airport, includes the Special Adviser on Islmaic Affairs/Chairman, Central Working Committee (CWC), Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Board Secretary, Mr. AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin and the Zonal Coordinator, NARCOS, Alh. Mustapha Wasiu Adetoro, and many others.
