Lagos State airlifts 2,379 intending pilgrims to S’Arabia for 2023 hajj

Lagos State Government has airlifted 2,379 intending pilgrims so far, comprising 994 males and 1,385 females, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the holy pilgrimage exercise.

The immediate past Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, disclosed this, yesterday, during the airlifting of the seventh batch of the state contingent at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The seventh batch departed on board a Flynas Airline XY 5722 with 415 intending pilgrims (157 males and 258 females) at 2:00 a.m. Nigerian time.

Elegushi said the airlifting exercise, which was kick-started last week Thursday, June 1, 2023, ahead of the initial scheduled date of June 4, had been encouraging so far, noting that the only challenge was the delay in issuance of visa by Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja.

“So far, so good, the airlifting exercise has been so smooth and hitch-free, except for the delay in the issuance of visa to the intending pilgrims by the Saudi Embassy,” he said.

He said if the visa issuance had been as fast as expected, the state would have by now moved all the intending pilgrims to the Kingdom.

He, however, added that the Embassy had been contacted to fast-track the processes with a view to ensuring that all the remaining intending pilgrims get their visas within the shortest period of time so that they can join other Muslims across the world in performing the hajj.

The Board Chairman, Imam Shakiru Ayinde Gafar, while addressing the intending pilgrims before their departure, appreciated them for their peaceful conduct over the delay in the issuance of their visas.

He, however, appealed to them to exhibit peace and patience throughout their stay in the holy land to improve the good image of the state and Nigeria and for their supplications to be accepted by Allah.