The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amirul Hajj

  • Excitement as Lagos announces refunds of N315 million to pilgrims

    The intending pilgrims under the Lagos State Government could not hide their joy on Wednesday following the announcement of refunds of N315 million by the state government.

    At a seminar organised for the pilgrims at the Blue Roof, LTV, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Wednesday, the Amirul Hajj, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the refund of N141,000 to each of the 2,234 pilgrims.

    The announcement was greeted with “Allahu Akbar! and Sanwo-Eko!” among others from the pilgrims.

    According to Dr AbdulLateef, the governor is interested in the pilgrims’ happiness and welfare, hence the decision.

    The former Commissioner for Home Affairs said: “The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has asked state boards to refund N51,000 to each pilgrim. NAHCON took the decision following the outcries against the high rate of Hajj fee. We commend the NAHCON for ensuring that the price of hajj is brought down. But Lagos State, being a Centre of Excellence, has set another milestone for other states to emulate by further reduction of additional N90,000. We’ll be returning N141,000 instead of the sum of N51,000 to all our pilgrims who paid N1.4million. This can only be done by a government that has the interest of its citizens at heart and this is what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done.

    “The governor has given us the mandate of ensuring that the welfare of the pilgrims is safeguarded including their health and security within and outside the country. This is what we have taken on board.”

    The first batch of pilgrims would leave on July 10.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mrs Folasade Jaji, said the state pilgrims welfare board has made name for herself among for herself amongst the committee of pilgrims boards across the nation.

    Read Also: Lagos/Badagry expressway ready before Dec, says Sanwo-Olu

    “It has over the years become a point of reference in the organisation of pilgrimage and welfare of pilgrims,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    He hailed the leadership of the Home Affairs ministry and members of the board “for the marvellous job they have been doing over the years and for organising this pilgrimage seminar as a platform that will afford us the opportunity of discussing relevant issues, exchanging ideas and offering prayers to Allah for a successful journey to and from the Holy land.”

    He advised the pilgrims to obey the laws of Saudi Arabia, be orderly and avoid negative tendencies capable of tarnishing the good image of the state and the nation.

    Chief Imam of Lagos State Sheikh Sulaimon Abou-Nolla advised the pilgrims to be patient and obey the instructions of the boards’ officials in Saudi Arabia.

    “When you are going to a foreign land, you need a lot of knowledge about that country so as not to run foul of their laws. The pilgrims have to be law-abiding and follow the rules and regulations guiding hajj rites,” Sheikh Abou-Nolla said.

    Also yesterday, the State Government inaugurated the Adhoc Committee for the this year’s Hajj Pilgrimage with a charge to the members to ensure that the state sustains its enviable position as the best in the country.

    Deputy Governor Dr Kadiri Hamzat, who inaugurated the committee, urged the members to see to the welfare and safety of the 2,234 pilgrims and also ensure that the entire pilgrimage process is performed peacefully.

    He said they should consider the assignment as a serious job involving issues of welfare, safety and the array of logistics involved from Lagos to Mecca and back to the country.

    “You are to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims, transportation to and within the Holy Land, accommodation and feeding of the pilgrims are taken care of. Your duties as a committee commence from Nigeria till their return and end at the tendering of report and recommendation for improvement,” the deputy governor said.

    Earlier, Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, said as part of the efforts to ensure an hitch-free hajj operation, the state Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board had organised series of activities which include seminar, talks, sensitisation, medical test amongst other exercises to prepare the pilgrims for the spiritual exercises.

    The event was witnessed by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Odejayi, and Secretary of the pilgrims’ Board Mr. Raman Ishola amongst others.

  • Amirul Hajj to pilgrims: pray for successful 2019 elections

    The Lagos State Amirul Hajj and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, has urged Nigerian pilgrims to pray for successful 2019 general elections.

    AbdulLateef, while addressing pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, said Nigeria would experience rapid growth, if leaders and the led sacrifice their ego and work selflessly.

    Stressing that sacrifice made by all and sundry could lead Nigeria back to the path of fulfilment, the commissioner explained that sacrifice was the bedrock of the sallah festival as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim and his Son, Ismail.

    He implored people to reflect on the essence of the festival.

    He said: “Don’t just celebrate by slaughtering rams. Eid-il-Adha is otherwise known as the Festival of Sacrifice. The essence of the festival was to teach selflessness, humility, obedience and sacrifice. Allah does not need the blood or flesh of the animal you slaughtered but your piety.

    “Sacrifice your food by providing food for those who are hungry, sacrifice your mansions by providing shelter for the displaced and homeless ones, put smiles on the faces of people in sorrow and the needy. There are many things you have been blessed with that you can sacrifice part of it to better the lives of fellow Nigerians.”

    The commissioner advised Nigerians to sacrifice their ego, pride and talents bestowed on them and work with others to promote religious tolerance, love for fellow citizens, unity and peaceful coexistence among people of different tribes.

    “We cannot build a formidable nation without working together; we cannot live happily as citizens without loving one another. Our unity and cooperation is sacrosanct to all round development and growth. Sacrifice what you have to add value to Nigeria,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to elect good people in the next year’s elections.

    He said: “Nigerians must rise up in defence for our democracy by active participation in politics. People should go beyond social media lamentations to exercise their franchise by voting people with the fear of God. Those who failed to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC); those who distance themselves from voting during elections are not helping the country. Your vote is your power, vote wisely and shun money bags politics.”.

    Dr Abdullateef enjoined Nigerians seeking elective positions to renew their commitment to serving people with dignity without heating up the polity.

  • Jigawa completes transportation of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    Jigawa completes transportation of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    The Jigawa Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has completed the transportation of the intending pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Hashim, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jigawa on Tuesday.

    He said the last batch of 390 intending pilgrims departed the Dutse International Airport on Tuesday at 12.31 a.m. by a Max Air Ltd.

    Hashim said with the last transportation, the Airline had transported a total of 1,481 pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia in an exercise that began on Aug. 18.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Muhammad Badaru, who bid the intending pilgrims farewell, urged them to shun any act that would contravene the laws of Saudi Arabia, throughout the exercise.

    Badaru also advised them to pray for peace, stability and economic prosperity of the country and wished them a successful Hajj.

    According to him, it is necessary to seek God’s intervention in the quest of Nigerians to overcome the present insecurity in the country.

    Contributing, the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Abubakar Maje, who is also the state’s Amirul Hajj, advised the intending pilgrims against engaging in any unlawful act during their sojourn in the Holy land.

    Maje also called on the intending pilgrims to respect the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and avoid acts that were capable of tarnishing the image of the state and the country.

    He warned that any unlawful act, on the part of the intending pilgrims, could invalidate their Hajj.

  • 2015 Hajj: Lagos denies sponsoring pilgrims

    2015 Hajj: Lagos denies sponsoring pilgrims

    Lagos State Government on Tuesday denied sponsorship of pilgrims for the 2015 hajj as being speculated in some media, even as the Amirul Hajj restated the state’s readiness to conduct a hitch free hajj.

    Reacting to publications in some dailies that some pilgrimage forms allocated to key officials of the state government have been hijacked, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on 2015 Hajj, AbdulLateef Abdul Hakeem, in a statement said the State government does not sponsor pilgrims to the holy land and that the State government is only interested in making sure the State pilgrims are well taken care of.

    “I wish to inform the general public that Lagos State has not sponsored or intend to sponsor any pilgrim for the 2015 hajj operations, what we were mandated to do  is to coordinate the affairs of all intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj, ” he said.

    The Amirul Hajj added that the State involvement as a responsive and responsible government is limited to medical, general welfare. He said, “we are giving support by providing Welfare personnel, Medical officials and Clerics to guide them and ensure that they remain good ambassadors”.

    “Lagos State Government recognizes the fact that pilgrimage is a private affair of individuals but the primary essence of governance is to ensure the welfare of the people within and outside the State so that they remain law abiding,” he said.

    He therefore urged all intending pilgrims to expect hitch free hajj operations and be good ambassadors of the state.

     

  • Ambode inaugurates Amirul Hajj, committee

    Ambode inaugurates Amirul Hajj, committee

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reiterated his administration’s readiness to improve pilgrims’ welfare.

    The governor spoke at the inauguration of the Amirul Hajj and Adhoc Committee for Hajj 2015.

    “My administration shall improve pilgrims’ welfare. I have approved a decentralised weekly orientation programme in the local governments to develop the right attitude and character worthy of ambassadors of Lagos State.

    “The spiritual orientation shall also be held at the state level before August 18,” the governor said.

    The Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, promised the governor that the team would not let the state down.

    Other members are Mr. Danmole AbdulHameed Ademola; Dr. Paramole Abdul Kabir; Alhaja Gawat Fatimat Folashade; Alhaja Latifat Adewale Omolara; Alhaja Risikat Ogunbunmi;  Alhaji Monzor Olowosago;  Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Opeloyeru; Dr Sopeyin AbdulGaniyu Oluremi; Alhaji Jinadu Lawal; Dr. Lateef Adetona and Dr. Nasirudeen Onibon.