IHR
As the airlift of intending pilgrims from Niger state commenced Sunday morning,
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has enjoined the to be prayerful, disciplined and law-abiding.
He also urged them to be good ambassadors of the state while in the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia.
The Governor gave the charge, today, at the Minna International Airport when he paid a farewell visit to the Intending Pilgrims shortly before their departure to Madina in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Command and Control Unit of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), MaxAir VM3033 departed Minna Airport, to Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport, Madinah at 12: 21hrs with 550 Niger Pilgrims and 10 Officials
The unit said there were 352 male and 198 female pilgrims onboard the plane.
It also said with the take off of MaxAir VM3033, 24,443 pilgrims were so far airlifted to Saudi Arabia in 50 flights from various airports across Nigeria.
Speaking at the farewell and represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, the Niger state Governor called on the Intending Pilgrims to desist from any act capable of infringing on Saudi laws.
He also warned them against taking any banned item into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to have a hitch-free and acceptable Hajj.
Governor Sani Bello also warned the Pilgrims not to give out their Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) to anyone except the trusted Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers (APWOs) so as not to fall into the hands of fraudsters.
The Governor urged all the Intending Pilgrims to pray for Nigeria and the State, especially on the security challenges facing the country.
MaxAir VM30333 had pilgrims from Mariga, Mashegu, Rijau, Edati and Munya Local Government Areas of the State including ten (10) officials from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
