By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Friday, June 17, 2022, a total of 779 intending pilgrims from Oyo State will leave the shores of Nigeria for this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
According to information gathered by Business Post, the first batch of pilgrims will travel to neighbouring Lagos State from Ibadan on Thursday, June 16 before boarding a flight to the Holy Land the following day.
On Wednesday, June 15, the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, is expected to meet with the intending pilgrims to bid them welfare.
While of Hajj clothes, bags and other needed materials to the intending pilgrims at the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board office, Hajj Camp, Olodo Ibadan today, the chairman of the organisation, Prof. Sayed Malik, called on the pilgrims to pray for Nigeria during their stay in the Middle East country.
“The first batch of Oyo State intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj is going to leave Ibadan on Thursday, June 16 and airlifted Insha Allah early morning of Friday, June 17,” he said.
The Chairman called on all the intending Oyo pilgrims to converge at Hajj Camp in Olodo on Thursday in preparation for their journey from Ibadan to Lagos, admonishing them to abide by all regulations laid down by the Saudi Government and be good ambassadors of the State and Nigeria at large.
“They must realise that they are going there for religious exercises, they must be careful not to go against regulations from the Saudi Arabia Government and abide by instructions given by officials of the Board because they are more knowledgeable than they are as far as Hajj is a concern,” he advised.
“They should not do things that can tarnish the good image of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general,” the board’s Chairman warned, adding that, “They must ensure they do not carry any illicit drug along with them because the law enforcement agencies will be on the ground to examine them thoroughly.”
Adedapo Adesanya