…Some fell ill in both Makkah and Madina.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, has said that all its 4,785 pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia in 10 flights for the 2024 pilgrimage.
He, however, expressed regrets that Kaduna lost one pilgrim in Mecca last Friday, according to the statement shared with newsmen in Kaduna journalists WhatsApp chat forum Thursday.
Speaking with news men at Medina on Thursday, Malam Salihu said Kaduna State has the largest number of pilgrims in Nigeria, adding that nine batches have already completed their Hajj rites in Medina and have proceeded to Mecca.
According to him, the last batch will leave for Mecca on Saturday, leaving behind a handful officials to check hospitals and other places, to ensure that no pilgrim has been left behind in Medina.
The Executive Chairman further said that the last batch, which comprised the Amirul Hajj, the Emir of Lere, Engr Suleiman Lere, arrived Medina with other Hajj officials on Tuesday.
“Each batch of pilgrims has stayed for four days in Medina as arranged by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The first nine batches have completed their stay and moved to Mecca. It’s only those that came with the last flight of 388 pilgrims, which included the Amirul Hajj, that are in Medina. Insha Allah (God willing), they will be conveyed to Mecca on Saturday.
“So far, we don’t have any major problem. But we regret to say that we lost one pilgrim in Mecca last Friday. We pray that Aljannah Firdausi be her abode,” he added.
Malam Salihu said that some pilgrims have fallen ill in both Mecca and Medina but most of them have been treated and discharged.
The Executive Chairman, who noted that the responsibility of feeding and accommodating pilgrims at Madina rests on NAHCON, commended the Hajj regulatory body for the services rendered.
Malam Salihu said that Kaduna State pilgrims in Mecca have so far not complained about the service providers that the Agency has engaged for catering and accommodation.
He said that, the Agency has come with officials, who are learned in all aspects of Hajj, that 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. Alhadulillah, the exercise went on very well.
“But, enlightenment and guidance is a continuous exercise. It is continuing here in Medina and Mecca and throughout the Hajj, until the pilgrims depart the Holy Land and land in Nigeria,” he added.