The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilgrims

  • Nigeria airlifts 18,909 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Saturday said it had airlifted 18,909 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 pilgrimage.

    About 76,000 intending pilgrims from the 36 states and FCT are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    The Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the airlift had been hitch free since it began on Aug. 23.

    He said the commission had so far recorded 49 flights of pilgrims mostly from Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Zamfara and Kogi.

    The director also said most of the pilgrims were airlifted direct to Medina, where they were expected to spend seven days before proceeding to Mecca, while others were transported to Jedda.

    “Buses are readily available at Jedda International Airport to transport pilgrims to Medina.

    “Those airlifted to medina on Aug. 23, will move to Mecca on Aug. 29.’’

    Mana said the airlift would be concluded on Sept. 15, adding, “ no pilgrim will be left behind.

  • Photo : Intending pilgrims fly to Saudi Arabia

    Photo : Intending pilgrims fly to Saudi Arabia

    FIRST BATCH OF INTENDING WOMEN PILGRIMS FROM GOMBE STATE BOARDING THEIR FLIGHT TO SAUDI ARABIA AT LAWANTI AIRPORT IN GOMBE ON THURSDAY EVENING.
    FIRST BATCH OF INTENDING WOMEN PILGRIMS FROM GOMBE STATE BOARDING THEIR FLIGHT TO SAUDI ARABIA AT LAWANTI AIRPORT IN GOMBE ON THURSDAY EVENING.
  • 3,158 Kaduna pilgrims fly to Saudi

    3,158 Kaduna pilgrims fly to Saudi

    Three thousand one hundred and fifty-eight of the 5,710 intending pilgrims from Kaduna State have been transported to Saudi Arabia, the Chairman of the state Task Force on Hajj, Senator Sani Saleh, has said.

    He assured that every intending pilgrim, who paid for this year’s hajj, would be transported.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Mando Hajj Camp, Saleh said the task force had sanitised hajj operation “because Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board now has a credible register.”

    According to him, the task force verified the names on the register to ensure no intending pilgrim, who had paid, was replaced with another pilgrim.

  • 66,000 Nigerian pilgrims fly out to Saudi Arabia

    66,000 Nigerian pilgrims fly out to Saudi Arabia

    NO fewer than 300 would-be pilgrims were yesterday flown out to Saudi Arabia. They are part of the 66,000 Nigerians scheduled to make this year’s hajj.

    The inaugural flight from the Kaduna International Airport conveyed pilgrims from Jemaá and Kajuru local government areas. Another flight was expected to take off last night from there. Many others were also flown out through the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

    National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Chairman Abdullahi Muktar Muhammad said six airlines will convey the 66,000 pilgrims to the Holy Land, using 13 aircraft. He said the airlift of pilgrims will be completed before the closure of Jedda Airport in Saudi Arabia on September 17.

    Alhaji Muhammad said NAHCON had closed its Jedda office. All the officials have moved to Makka and Madina to facilitate a smooth operation. He said there would be no VIP tents. All NAHCON officials will stay with the pilgrims.

    The chairman said the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria will be on the basis of ‘’first in, first out’’. It is expected to end on October 27

    President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the inaugural flight by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    The President said although the Federal Government will not fund pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, it has set up a Coordinating Committee to supervise this year’s pilgrimage.

    He charged the pilgrims to pray for Nigeria’s peace and progress.

    The President said the coordinating committee will be funded by the service charge which pilgrims paid to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    According to him, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, will head the committee. The Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya, as well as Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed are members.

    Buhari also reiterated the position of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) that Hajj will add value to the nation’s economy if it is properly organised.

    Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, in his goodwill message, prayed for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, adding that the pilgrims should also pray for Nigeria’s peace and progress.

    The emir of Kano advised them to be of good conduct because the mere thought of evil while in Saudi Arabia will be recorded against such a pilgrim.

    A statement by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu yesterday said the President “has accepted the voluntary offer by the leadership of the Muslim community under the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar II, to carry out an oversight over the Ad-hoc committees of government officials established by NAHCON”.

    They are to cater for the general welfare of Nigerian pilgrims for the duration of the pilgrimage.

    The Sultan is represented by a committee of emirs led by the emir of Kano.

    Shehu said the offer did not contradict the directive by the President that the Federal Government’s delegation for the 2015 Hajj be suspended in line with the cost-saving measures of his administration.

    While accepting the voluntary offer of service, the President made it clear that there will be no government funds involved in the mission by the respected emir.

    He said the government would also not name members into the Emir’s delegation.

    Buhari promised that all measures had been taken to ensure that the well-being of Nigerians on the holy pilgrimage is well managed by the various ad-hoc committees on medical, accommodation, transport, logistics, information and publicity, aviation and tour operators as well as security that generally assist the Commission in ensuring hitch-free Hajj operations.

    The President praised the Emir for adding this responsibility to his own personal Hajj plans.

  • Ambode to pilgrims: Imbibe spiritual benefits of Hajj

    Ambode to pilgrims: Imbibe spiritual benefits of Hajj

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday urged intending pilgrims to imbibe the spiritual benefits of the Hajj to foster peace and religious tolerance in the country.

    Ambode spoke at a seminar for intending Muslim pilgrims from Lagos State, to prepare them for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

    He said that Hajj was the fifth pillar of Islam and the exercise should be handled with all the seriousness that it required.

    ”Lagos State has 3, 047 intending pilgrims out of the 66, 000 from the whole of Nigeria, which is the highest in the whole of Southern Nigeria to go to the Holy Land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj exercise.

    ”I urge you to take advantage of the spiritual benefits of Hajj to imbibe the exalted qualities of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

    ”Our state is in dire need of men and women who have the fear of God, demonstrate religious tolerance, selflessness, who are peaceful and charitable, for the growth and development of our state and nation in general.

    ”I hope that this Hajj will equip you with the capacity to coexist peacefully with people of other faith, religion and ideology.

    ”The state government will provide necessary welfare package – medical, spiritual and other support, as well as ensure that your safety and security is guarded and not endangered,” he said.

    Ambode urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors and be mindful of the image of the state and country.

    In a lecture entitled “Socio-Economic and Ambassadorial Implications of Hajj”, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf explained that Hajj was a global spiritual exercise and act of worship for total human reflection.

    ”If you successfully observe Hajj, you have won yourself a seat in paradise.

    ”It calls for sober reflection, patience, tolerance and endurance, as well as to appreciate God and humanity, ” he said.

    In his remarks, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on 2015 Hajj, said that the seminar was aimed at developing the right attitude and character worthy of ambassadors of Lagos State in the holy land.

    ” I urge you to pray for our country, our people, our leaders, but most especially, to pray for us all that God would restore those values with which He created us, ” he said.

  • Photo: Intending Pilgrims receives vaccine in Gombe

    Photo: Intending Pilgrims receives vaccine in Gombe

  • 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.

     

  • Hajj 2015: Airlift of pilgrims to start Aug.18

    Hajj 2015: Airlift of pilgrims to start Aug.18

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced yesterday that the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj will commence on Tuesday, August 18.

    The Commission Chairman, Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar, said in a message to the inauguration of the Medical Team for the hajj in Abuja that all necessary arrangements had been put in place for the religious obligation.

    Mukhtar, who was represented by Dr. Saleh Okenwa, the Commissioner in charge of strategy, said the that the Commission had provided medical facilities for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and urged them to discharge their duties as expected of them.

    He promised that this year’s exercise would be different from previous exercises because of the level of the Commission’s preparation.

    In his remarks, the Commissioner in charge of the Medical Team, Dr Ibrahim Kana, commended the Commission for the medical arrangements put in place for this year’s exercise.

    He said that “with what I have seen on ground, I have no doubt in my mind that this year’s Hajj will be exceptionally successful. With the kind of professionals that made up the Medical Team, the sky is just our starting point.”

    Kana promised the team of adequate accommodation in the Holy Land, and warned, however, that team members should not occupy a whole room for whatever reasons.

    “The culture is one bed space per person and not a whole room per person and please people should not lock rooms for whatever reasons. We will make sure nobody suffers, whatever the team is entitled to will be given, no denial.”

    Kano also urged the team to give the best services to the pilgrims and promised them of safety of their luggage.

    He added that “gone are the days when luggage spend several weeks before getting to the owners.”

     

  • Hajj Mabrur takes pilgrims to Jordan, Israel

    A Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMVL) will today airlift some fasting Muslims to Jordan and Israel.

    The trip, according to Alhaji Adewunmi Dhulkifli, is to observe special salat in Masjid Al Aqsa, the Islamic third holiest mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan.

    Participants, he said, will visit several tourist sites that have connections with Islamic history including the cave of the seven sleepers.

    Adewunmi said the choice of Masjid Aqsa was apt.

    “Because of its significance in Islamic history; Prophet Muhammad led other prophets of Allah in prayer inside that Mosque before ascending to heaven to personally receive the five daily Salat Muslims observe today.

    “Aside this, one get 500 rewards for every Salat observed in the Mosque compare to 27 rewards in other Mosques except the two aforementioned Holy Mosques,” he said.

    “Likewise, when people perform Hajj rites and move from Saudi Arabia to Palestine where Masjid Aqsa is situated and pray there before returning to their various destinations, the pilgrims are called Hajj Qudus (Alhaji Qudus), an addendum appellation to an ordinary Hajj (Alhaji). It is rare these days to hear Hajj Qudus unlike our forefathers who took pains to go extra mile to attain the status.”

     

  • Medical screening for Hajj pilgrims

    Medical screening for Hajj pilgrims

    Intending pilgrims from the Federal Capital territory have been informed that they will undergo a compulsory medical screening arranged by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to qualify them to travel to Saudi Arabia.

    Director of the Board, Malam Bashir Muhammad stated this while monitoring the second phase of the Education and Orientation exercise for 2015 intending Pilgrims at the permanent Hajj transit camp over the weekend.

    In a press statement sent by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Commission, Muhammad Aliyu, Malam Bashir warned the pilgrims to present themselves to the screening organised by the board and participate in all activities arranged for the success of the exercise.

    And warned that failure to participate in any of the activities by the intending pilgrim may risk the chances of performing hajj through the board this year.

    The statement also disclosed that the director had disclosed that the board had fixed 28th to 30th of Julyfor the medical screening which is to be conducted at the permanent hajj camp.

    It also stated that, “Mallam Bashir said that the third phase of the education and orientation exercise for the pilgrims would be conducted on 25th and 26th July at the usual venue.

    “The fourth and final education and orientation exercise for intending pilgrims this year which involve practical and examination is scheduled to take place on 1st and August 2 at the hajj camp, while distribution of literature materials and uniform would be conducted immediately after the payment of the balance of hajj fare as soon as the federal government releases the final hajj fare for this year.

    “He urged the intending pilgrims to take the programmes with all seriousness they deserve in order to get the value for their money. He therefore warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to submit their international passport to the board, to, as a matter of urgency, do so to enable the Board process their travel documents or risk the chance of performing the hajj.

    “The education and orientation exercises were aimed at educating the FCT intending pilgrims on all aspects of the operation ranging from hajj rites, Transportation system for the operation, morale and manners during Hajj exercise, as well as Saudi rules and regulations

    in addition to new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    “The exercise also enables the intending pilgrims get conversant with the prohibited items for the journey and penalties. Various stakeholders on Hajj affairs are expected to present lectures on their role in the operation.”