The Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board has said a total of 3,740 Pilgrims would perform the 2023 Hajj from the state.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir stated this during an enlightenment and special prayer programme organised for all intending pilgrims held at the premises of the state Muslim Pilgrims Board.
The programme was the maiden enlightenment exercise as preparations for the 2023 Hajj are in top gear.
The prayer was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Saba Jibril who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Service, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulsalam.
The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Solihu supported by Imam Imale while the lecture was delivered by the Grand Khadi of the State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen.
The Secretary explained that funds for all of them have been remitted to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Abdulkadir said the board accommodated over 200 outstanding intending pilgrims from last year’s exercise.
He said NAHCON has scheduled the 21st of May for the inaugural flight but the Kwara schedule for the airlifting of the pilgrims was yet to be released.
Abdulkadir explained that the vaccination for the exercise in the state would commence next week.
The Secretary commended the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his massive support to the board to perform its duties without any hindrance.
The board’s Executive Chairman, Dr Abdulkadir Sambaki, advised the intending pilgrims to be law abiding and conscious of Allah in all their undertakings while in Nigeria and the Holy Land.
He said there was the need for the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and Kwara State in particular.
“I want to enjoin them to comply with dos and don’ts of the exercise. They should abide by the law of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia Authorities because there is no room for disobedience for all intending pilgrims”, he said.
In his lecture, the Grand Khadi of Kwara State, Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, advised all intending pilgrims to prepare for the exercise with fear of God.
The Grand Khadi also enjoined intending pilgrims to cooperate with board members and avoid any acts that could disrupt the exercise while in Nigeria and the Holy Land.