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Oyo State Government has revealed that 779 intending pilgrims from the state will depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on Friday, June 17, for Hajj.
The Chairman, Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Prof. Sayed Malik, disclosed this during the distribution of Hajj Clothes, Bags and other materials to Intending Pilgrims at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
Malik called on the intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria while performing the spiritual exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He stated that the first batch of the Pilgrims are expected to be moved from Ibadan to Lagos, on Thursday,June 16, and take off to the Holy Land the following day.
“The first batch of Oyo State Intending Pilgrims for this year’s Hajj is going to leave Ibadan on Thursday, 16th June, and airlifted insha Allah early morning of Friday, that is 17th July 2020,” he noted.
While urging those that were unable to collect the needed materials on Tuesday to make themselves available as soon as possible, the Chairman noted that the Governor Seyi Makinde is expected to meet with the intending pilgrims on Wednesday, June 15, to bid them good bye.
He urged the intending Pilgrims to converge at Hajj Camp, Olodo, on Thursday, for their journey from Ibadan to Lagos.
The chairman admonished them to abide by all the regulations laid down by the Saudi Arabia Government and be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria.
“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 concern.
“They should not do things that can tarnish the good image of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
“They must ensure they do not carry any illicit drug along with them because the Law Enforcement Agencies will be on ground to examine them thoroughly,” Malik said.