2025 Hajj: First Batch From kwara To Be Airlifted May 12

Arrangements have been completed by the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to commence the airlift of intending pilgrims from the state, with the first batch scheduled to be airlifted on the twelfth of next month from the Ilorin International Airport to the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, made this disclosure today during the enlightenment programme organized for the intending pilgrims to this year's Hajj, held at the Board's premises in Ilorin.

Alh. Abdulkadir disclosed further that vaccination for the intending pilgrims from the state will commence  tomorrow (Monday), while the distribution of uniforms is scheduled for Wednesday, and that of travelling bags will be on Friday this week.

According to him, kwara will have four scheduled flights, with each flight consisting of 550 pilgrims and a total of 2,174 intending pilgrims from the state.

The take off date for the four scheduled flights, the Executive Secretary stated, would be 12th May for the first batch of the intending pilgrims, second batch will be on the 14th, third batch will be taking their turn on the 16th, while intending pilgrims for the last batch are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on the 17th  of May, 2025. 

In his remarks, the Chairman, Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Professor Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, called on intending pilgrims to desist from abusive words before, during and after their stay on the plane of Arafat in order to have a holy pilgrimage exercise.

In his lecture, the Grand Khadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen advised the intending pilgrims to perform their pilgrimage with the utmost fear of Allah.

Justice Kamaldeen enjoined them to be patient while in the Holy Land to have a successful Hajj exercise.

In their separate remarks, the representative of Federal Airport Authority, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service and FOMWAN advised the intending pilgrims to follow the rules and regulations of the Hajj exercise while in Saudi Arabia and be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large.

A major highlight of the programme was a demonstration on how to perform Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the steps and procedures intending pilgrims are expected to follow during the pilgrimage exercise.

Jumoke Jimoh

Press Secretary, 

Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.