Press Release
In continuation of its preparations for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Oyo State Pilgrim Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) has commenced the distribution of traveling necessities to intending pilgrims from the state.
The materials distributed included traveling bags and clothes to be worn by the pilgrims as uniform and means of identification during the Hajj exercise.
Presiding over the distribution on Tuesday at the State #Hajj Camp in Olodo Ibadan, the Chairman of the State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board Professor Sayed Malik disclosed that there would be a minor change in traveling arrangements.
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“The current civil war in Sudan has affected our plan. The armed conflict in Sudan would not allow aircrafts carrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Nigeria and other nations to pass through the country’s airspace. Consequently, the airliners are going to take a longer route and thus spend longer time in arriving at their destination”, Professor Malik explained.
He explains further:
“The implications of this is that the transportation to the holy lands will cost more as the airlines are going to make additional charges to take care of extra aviation fuel to be consumed in the longer trip. However, NAHCON decided not to collect additional charges from the intending pilgrims but resorted to adjust their estacodes. Therefore, each intending pilgrim will collect $700 instead of the usual $800” as their Basic Travelling Allowances (BTA).
The Board Chairman assured the intending pilgrims that their safety throughout the period of the holy pilgrimage is guaranteed.
He also announced that shortly before the departure of the first batch of the state contingent, the Executive Governor of the state, Engineer Seyi Makinde will bid the intending pilgrims farewell at the Hajj Camp in Olodo Ibadan.
“His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde will come here to bid you farewell on the eve of the departure of the first batch of our intending pilgrims. He will also flag off some landmark projects at our premises”, Professor Malik stated.
The first batch of Oyo State intending pilgrims are expected to take off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
About 1,500 Muslims from #Oyo State are also expected to take part in this year’s hajj exercise.
Raji K. K
Media Officer
