• Constitutes Working Committee, LGA Coordinators

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB) has commenced the process of vaccinating its intending pilgrims against polio, meningitis and yellow fever ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The vaccination which started last Wednesday (Day 1) at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque Hall, GRA, Ikeja, had intending pilgrims from Agege, AmuwoOdofin, Badagry and Mushin Local Councils being attended to.

According to the roster of the exercise, intending pilgrims from other local councils would be attended to as scheduled. On day two (Thursday, April 17) intending Thursday, April 17 (Day 2) was the turn of intending pilgrims from AjeromiIfelodun, Eti-Osa, Kosofe and Oshodi-Isolo. The exercise will resume on Tuesday, April 22 (Day 3) with intending pilgrims from Alimosho, Epe, IfakoIjaiye and Lagos Mainland.

Apapa, Surulere, Ikeja and Lagos Island councils will be attended to on Day 4 (Wednesday, April 23) while on Day 5 (Thursday April 24), Shomolu, Ojo, Ikorodu and JAIZ Bank, NIA and Royal intending pilgrims would be vaccinated.

The last day, Monday April 28, will be dedicated to government officials and outstanding/left over pilgrims. The Board Secretary, Mr. AbdulHakeemAjomagberin said that the vaccination exercise was in fulfilment of the requirements for international travels. He therefore urged the intending pilgrims to make themselves available on the date appointed for their respective local governments.He added that officials of the Port Health Service (Federal Ministry of Health) would provide them with the yellow card after the vaccination.

Meanwhile, the State Government has constituted a 13-man central working committee to oversee and ensure the success of the 2025 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Lawal, the Board Secretary said that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe has been appointed as the Chairman of the committee. He also added that 21 Schedule Officers (Coordinators) have been appointed for the Local Councils of the state.

He emphasized that while the committee would be responsible for the Hajj operation both in Nigeria and the Holy Land, by ensuring that everything necessary is put in place for the pilgrims to perform the Hajj rites both in Makkah and Madinah seamlessly,the coordinators would work closely with the committee to ensure that the needs of the pilgrims are met and their journey made as comfortable as possible.

Ajomagberin who was recently appointed as the Board Secretary, explained that each member of committee would chair the sub-committees constituted for the success of the pilgrimage.

According to him, the sub-committees and their chairmen are: Imam (Engr.) ShakiruAyindeGafar (Muna, Madinah and Arafah); Prof. Kabir Paramole (Dawah & Sensitization); Dr. (Mrs.) Faosat Dabiri (Medical); Alhaji Yusuf Ara (Bags and Luggages); Alhaji Mojeed Sanni (Transportation); Hon. Waheed LoladeShonibare (Airlifting and Manifest) and Hon. Mayegun Musiliudeen (Accommodation).

Others are: Alhaji Agoro Ibrahim (Security); Issa Akeredolu (Media and Publicity); Imam NurainAbdulAzeez (Tribunal); Alhaja Oluwakemi Okunola and
AlhajaIdayatElegbede (Special duties) and Board Secretary (Passport and Visa).

He listed the appointed Local Government Coordinators as Anileleye Maimuna (Kosofe); Ige Kolawole (Agege); Adele-Sanyaolu Mariam (Amuwo-Odofin); Saidat Alogba-Kalejaye (Ikorodu); Musa Lawal (Eti-Osa); Ajarat Sanusi-Alaka (Alimosho); Khadijat Oluwa-Adegbola(Surulere); Fatimah Jaji (JAIZ Bank, NIA and Royal); Ahmed Rukayat (Lagos Mainland); Muhammed Abiola (Ikeja); Hassan Ismaila (Ojo) and Suraj Akinyemi (Apapa).

Others are Lawal Abdullahi (Epe); Abubakar Aliyu (Oshodi-Isolo); Abubakar Lawal (Lagos Island); BisiriyuLookman (Ajeromi-Ifelodun); AbdulSalamSilifat ((Mushin); Gafar Mujib (Badagry); Taiwo Anibaba (Shomolu); Bello Rashidat (Ifako-Ijaye) while MurtadorSaudat will coordinate the government officials.
Ajomagberin said that the committees and LGA coordinators are expected to work collectively as a team with other stakeholders to address every aspect of the pilgrimage exercise with a view to ensuring a smooth, convenient and remarkable experience for the pilgrims.