The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilgrims

  • Kano to transport pilgrims to Medina

    Kano State government has assured its 5,537 intending pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj that they would be airlifted from Kano direct to Medina, instead of Jeddah.

    The Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, gave the assurance yesterday at the closing of the first leg of sensitisation workshop for the intending pilgrims in Kano.

    He said the government had already finalised arrangements with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on the issue.

    “This year, all our pilgrims will be airlifted from Nigeria direct to Medina, instead of Jeddah, and this is courtesy of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s struggle,” Abubakar said.

    According to him, the state government has already secured decent accommodation for the intending pilgrims in Mecca and Medina.

    He urged the pilgrims to continue to cooperate with the government to enable the state win the best performing state from the Saudi authorities.

    “For four years now the state has been receiving the gold medal award for the best performing state from the Saudi authorities and we want to sustain the tempo,” Abubakar said.

    The deputy governor urged the intending pilgrims to give the new executive secretary of the board the support and cooperation to enable him discharge his duties effectively.

    The new Executive Director of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abba Yakubu, said the board had so far remitted N1.5 billion to NAHCON as 50 per cent of the total Hajj fares.

    He enjoined female intending pilgrims who were yet to attend the ongoing pregnancy test to do or forfeit their seats.

    According to him, the test is in line with the directive of NAHCON to all the state pilgrims welfare boards in the country.

    “The board will commence screening of the intending pilgrims across the 44 local government areas of the state, soon,” he added.

    NAN reports that the second leg of the sensitisation workshop will begin after the Ramadan fast.

  • Kano okays N242m for 2015 pilgrims’ accommodation

    Kano okays N242m for 2015 pilgrims’ accommodation

    The Kano State Government has said it approved over N242 million for the payment of intending pilgrims’ accommodation in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

    Information Commissioner Ladidi Garko addressed reporters yesterday on the outcome of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting in Kano.

    She said the council also approved over N26 million to reimburse tuition and other associated fees for 27 state-sponsored students in China.

    She said: “The council also approved N191.8 million for the settlement of outstanding debt in favour of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

    “The council approved N10.6 million for the production of one million seedlings for 2015.”

    Garko said N15 million was also approved for pipeline extension and reticulation from Kwankwaso Market to Sabon Garin Kwankwaso.

    She reiterated government’s determination to develop infrastructure to improve the people’s welfare.

  • A pilgrim’s dream fulfilled

    Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan nursed a life-long dream to visit Jerusalem on pilgrimage.  The 63-year old finally won a return ticket for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  He shares his experience with JANE CHIJIOKE

    FOR Mr Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan, visiting Jerusalem was a dream he had long nursed in his heart. He had committed it prayer everyday with great hope that it would come to pass one day.

    This dream became a reality after he participated in a three-day seminar organised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church where he emerged the overall-best participant and won a return ticket to Jerusalem, Isreal.

    After the end of the seminar which had its theme as: “Biblical prophesies as it applies in our time”, participants were given series of biblical questions to answer and return two weeks after.

    The performance of Mr Ayo-Vaughan, being among the participants from other church denominations, gave him the opportunity to clinch the grand prize while 11 others went home with a telephone tablets.

    The journey to Israel began with an award dinner at a Chinese Restaurant on Victoria Island, where the psychologist and author was presented with his award.

    He said: “When I was announced winner of the grand prize, I was very happy. I have won many prizes in the past but this was quite a surprised. I knew I could win because I put in my best so it didn’t really come as a shock but a surprise.

    “After the dinner, I met Mrs. Mary Oyedekun of Unique Pilgrim’s Tour an organisation that works in conjunction with Tailor Made Tour of Israel to make arrangement for my nine-day trip.”

    On December 9, 2014,  Ayo-Vaughan in the company of 10 other pilgrims boarded an Ethiopian’s Airlines at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. The flight had a stop-over at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It arrived at the Ben-Gurian Airport, Tel-Aviv, Isreal at 3am on December 10.

    “Eleven of us were from different chapels and among us, Pastor Abiodun Adebayo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was selected as the team leader because of his previous experiences in the Holy Land.”

    After breakfast on December 10, he narrated that they were handed over to their guide, Mr David Czvika, who has a 30-year experience in tour guide. They started the tour around the Crest of Mount Carmel and continued along the coastal road known as Caesarea Maritima, reputed to be the first seat of government of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.

    Their next stop was Haifa, which houses the Bahai Garden. The pilgrims were told that the Bahai represents a religion that originated from Iraq.

    “Today, however, Israel seems to be the world head quarters of the Bahia faith and the significance of the gardens is in the fact that adherents of the faith from around the world gather at the garden for their convention,” he said.

    He said the religion ought to be an offshoot of Islam but the main Islamic religion believes that Mohammed is the last or the seal of the prophets. The Bahai faith is opposed to this as it believes that Bahaullah, the founder of the religion is recognised as a prophet.

    They went further to visit the Druze village, then Mount Carmel where Prophet Elijah encountered the prophets of Baal in the Bible.

    He said: “We proceeded to Daliyah where they learnt it is a Kibitz which has a politico-cultural place in the life of the Jewish society. It also has a community structured after the idealogy of socialism relying on the principle of ‘from each according to his ability and to each according to his needs.

    “We stumbled on Mount Megiddo known as Armageddon, also Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. The Church of Annunciation where Gabriel visited Mary to announce to her as the one to conceive Jesus Christ, they learnt still holds a controversy as to whether Angel Gabriel met Mary at a well or in her house deliver the message.”

    “We proceeded to Nazareth where they lodge for two days. They went on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where they met other pilgrims from different countries.  They headed to Capernaum and saw an inscription welcome to the home of Jesus. There they visited the ancient synagogue, the Mount of the Beatitudes, the church where Jesus fed the 5,000people with loaves of bread and fish, the Mount Tharbor the Basilica of the transfiguration. They later proceeded to Bethlehem and Jerusalem where they stumbled on various landmark places written in the bible.”

    On December 15, 2014, the pilgrims were decorated with badges and given certificates formally acknowledging them as Jerusalem Pilgrims (JP).

    Mr Ayo-Vaughan said his experience gave him a better understanding of the concept of the brotherhood of man as according to him, during the boat ride, the pilgrims had the privilege to share experience with their counterparts from South Africa and Canada.

     

     

     

  • Kabo airlifts 8,326 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia

    Kabo airlifts 8,326 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia

    THE  Kabo Air, has concluded the airlift of over 8, 326 Muslim pilgrims from Saudi Arabia back to the country.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Captain Saidu Muhammad who disclosed this , while speaking with reporters,  described the operation as yet another successful one in the company’s over three decades of existence

    According to him,  passengers cut across Adamawa,Kaduna, Kano and Kwara states.Capt  Muhammad noted that the last flight came into the country through Illorin International Airport with a total of 500 passengers on board which comprises of 412 pilgrims and 88 officials.

    He added that apart from the conveying  the pilgrims to the holy land and back, along with their luggage, the company has made another history with its 580 seater B747-400 aircraft, in which it recently acquired.

    The B747-400 with registration    number 5N-MDK  is the aircraft with the highest seating capacity in the country.

    Captain Saidu then expressed his gratitude to  all and sundry that contributed to the success of the exercise.

  • A pilgrim’s supplication

    A pilgrim’s supplication

    And it came to pass on the 24th day of the month of October in the year of our Lord 2014. President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also known as Ebele Azikiwe (JP), embarked on spiritual peregrination in Israel.

    His itinerary was unknown, except to the small group of Pentecostal giants and cabinet members on his entourage. Trust Nigerians. They are not satisfied with the television clips and pictures of the pilgrimage. Ever so curious, they have been asking questions about the trip, a purely private matter.

    Why travel to the holy land now? Was it to seek some ethereal sanctification for his political future? Was it to petition the Almighty to take over the battle against Boko Haram, the sect that has committed murdersand rights abuses on a scale beyond human comprehension, even as there seems to be no let-up in its bloody campaign? What did His Excellency discuss with God?

    So many were the questions that “Editorial Notebook” decided to seek answers from usually reliable sources. One of such sources, a man who claims to be versed in telepathy and necromancy, but who has never really proved himself, swore that he could by his strange trade, which many have described as utter charlatanism,  relay the events of the last few days in the holy land. He dwelt, particularly, on what he described as Jonathan’s petition to God.

    There was no independent confirmation of the story as all members of the presidential entourage declined to comment on the events, claiming that it was all a private matter. It was as if they swore to an oath of secrecy.

    In any case, here goes the account of our man, the Oyingbo necromancer, who dared anybody to fault his details:

    And the Lord appeared to Jonathan in a dream by night: And God said, ask what I shall give thee.

    And Jonathan said: Thou hast shown unto thy servant great mercy – from an unknown teacher to deputy governor, governor, vice president and now president. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people, a great people, great in number and greater in intrigues. Now, many of them are saying I should quit the throne which thou, in thine infinite mercy, has given unto me. Ehm…ehm…I don’t need to hide anything from you. Things have not been easy at home. When I took office, I thought it was going to be smooth and easy all the way, but, Father, it is rough o; too many challenges.

    The Lord replied in a deep, clear voice that only the deep and the privileged few could decipher: My son, what exactly would you like me to do for you?

    Jonathan: Simple, my father. My tenure will soon expire. I want another term. There are so many unfinished matters. There are many hurdles here and there – security issues, which I am confronting; corruption, which everybody knows that I hate but my opponents insist I have refused to fight; poor infrastructure – I have been repairing our collapsed roads and I have awarded contracts to ensure that the airports are glittering – and many other problems.  My people are so difficult to please; they ganged up against the woman I put in charge of the airports, accusing her of buying a N255 million bullet proof car. Poor woman. I was forced to sack her.

    Please, tell the people to realise that I’m trying my best; they should give me another chance.

    Have you put your house in order? Are your people happy? Why seek another term if the current term is so turbulent?

    Thank you, Lord. My people are insatiable. It is all politics. I am trying my best. See the way I have been fighting Boko Haram. The way those boys started, if not for my agility, they would have moved beyond the Northeast, where they are occupying just a few towns and some villages. Now I have got the go-ahead to borrow $1 billion for weapons. Some of my people, who will always see politics in everything and nothing good in my administration, have started crying that the money is for 2015. Please, tell them to have patience.

    Patience, your wife? What has she got to do with this?

    No, father. I don’t mean the First Lady. Nigerians should take it easy with me. They are always accusing me of politicking while, as they say, many are hungry and angry. These are people who know how much I have spent to encourage cassava farmers o. They know that we will one day stop importing rice, with the kind of programme that I am putting in place. Cassava bread, which they claim is only seen at the villa, will soon be available to all. So, I don’t see why they should deny me another term.

    There are so many problems. Too much blood. Boko Haram is at its peak of savagery. Instead of releasing the 219 innocent girls they have abducted, they have been taking more hostages. These are people you swore to protect. Kidnappers are back. Robbers are on the loose. Who will save my people?

    Lord, you are the one that appoints kings. Power belongs to you and you give it to whosoever you favour. Give me. There are Goliaths everywhere; very terrible Goliaths, the ones that can even kill their father, their mother, their children in order to stop government. And they are willing to do it, but surely with you, God, we will conquer them.

    Every Goliath has an exposed forehead; all the Goliaths that are stumbling blocks to the development of this country. You will expose their foreheads for the stone of David.

    My security people have assured me that they know where the girls are and that they will bring them back home. The problem is that we don’t want any casualty. That is why I have begun talks with the insurgents. That one too has brought up another problem; they say I am negotiating because I want to declare my intention to contest next year’s election, that I want to use the girls’ matter as a campaign issue and that I used to say that Boko Haram was faceless. See how cynical my people can be?

    How do I explain that it is to you that I have given power again? You have not pleased the people I have asked you to rule over. Search thy heart; have you done well?

      For me, and I believe for the governors that are here with me, we are mere mortals. As mere mortals, we are not insulated from errors. There may be faults or failures. But, one thing that I know is that you, God, will not allow me to do anything that will not be in the best interest of the country.

    Some Nigerians still want the President to be a lion or a tiger. I don’t need to be a lion. I don’t need to be a Nebuchadnezzar. I don’t need to operate like the Pharaoh of Egypt. And I don’t need to be an army general. I can change this country without those traits.

    By the way, why did you not stay in Nigeria to pray to me? I am everywhere. I am the Lord. I can do all things. Didn’t I save you from Ebola? Instead of being grateful, you turned it all into another political debate.

    No, my Lord and Saviour. I did not. My aides, those whom you have given me to work with, did. I never did. I swear.

    Never you swear. Just make your point. Remember, you are now a Justice of Peace (JP).

    In fact, I told Nigerians that we should be united, that if we unite and fight all our problems the way we fought Ebola, all will be well with us, but they won’t listen.

    Behold, I would have done according to thy words. But, here is the truth: Another tenure need not thee, but a wise and understanding heart. Wisdom, as I gave my servant Solomon. There was none like him before him and after him has none arisen. Will you listen?

    And Jonathan awoke; and, behold it was a dream. And he returned to Nigeria.

    Tambuwal’s smart move and PDP’s tears

    IT was long expected. But the long expectation did not mitigate the effect. It came not with a whimper but a bang. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is left reeling, like a careless farmer stung by a band of bees. Dazed.
    There is no need for the PDP to mourn House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is an opportunity for some introspection. Wasn’t the PDP implosion long predicted? Why are the party’s best taking flight? Ideological incertitude? Plain insincerity? Frustration?
    The cycle seems to be closing on Africa’s biggest party and its dream of ruling for 60 years is melting away like ice cream under the scorching sun. The yoke has become so unbearable for Nigerians – impunity as state policy, insecurity, corruption and all that mess – and the wise have seen the sign. It is as white as snow. Clear.
    Under Tambuwal, the tempestuous House has been stable. The Executive has been put on its toes. Talk of good leadership. The PDP should stop bragging; it should nurse its wound in peace. Any attempt to scupper Tambuwal’s House will draw more sympathy for him. A word is enough for the wise, as they say. But how many are the wise?

  • 271 Muslim pilgrims arrive MMIA

    271 Muslim pilgrims arrive MMIA

    The Managing Director of Medview Airlines,  Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said some 271 Muslim pilgrims that took part in the 2014 Hajj in Saudi Arabia returned home aboard the airline yesterday.

    Bankole told newsmen in Ikeja that the pilgrims, from the South West zone of Nigeria, arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos aboard a Boeing 767 aircraft of the airline.

    According to him, the Muslim faithful are from Ogun and Oyo states.

    He said the pilgrims were the first batch to return to the country among others designated for transportation by the airline.

    Bankole said the remaining 5,303 pilgrims allocated to the airline would be transported within two weeks.

    “We are fully mobilised in terms of equipment and personnel to handle the return leg of the annual exercise.

    “We will ensure that the airline concludes the return leg in record time, even as measures have been put in place to ensure the exercise is hitch-free,’’ he said.

    He, however, called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to assist in getting aircraft for any stranded Nigerian pilgrim at the holy land if need be. (NAN)

  • Pray for Ebola-free country, minister urges pilgrims

    Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide has appealed to intending pilgrims to Saudi Aradia to pray for Nigeria to overcome the nagging security threats and for it to clampdown on the deadly Ebola virus disease.

    Akinjide made the appeal while addressing the FCT’s intending pilgrims at the Permanent Hajj Camp, Abuja.

    She said the forthcoming 2015 general elections would be the strength of Nigeria’s democracy, adding that the country would overcome the odds through prayers.

    She said: “Like many other countries, Nigeria is passing through some challenges ranging from insecurity to Ebola epidemic. Similarly, the forthcoming general election is one that would, no doubt, test the strength of our democracy. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that with your prayers and the help of Almighty God, We shall overcome all these odds.

    “The FCT Administration had evolved effective orientation programme, medical screening, pre-and post-hajj logistics.”

    She urged intending pilgrims to reciprocate government’s efforts by being good ambassadors of Nigeria, adding that there was need for them to co-operate with the hajj officials to achieve success.

    “You should reflect Nigeria’s devotion to God by being disciplined, timely and dedicated to spiritual exercise. Let people who come in contact with you be able to see your good conduct and respect for our country, Akinjide said.

    Speaking earlier, the director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bashir Muhammed said the board had conducted series of activities in line with Saudi Arabia directives for all intending pilgrims.

    He said: “We had conducted all necessary medical screenings for everyone and FCT’s administration has secured befitting accommodation for its contingents in Makkah.

    “A one-day interactive session was held for officials with stern warnings to zero tolerance of indiscipline as anybody found wanting during the exercise shall have himself or herself to blame.”

  • 200 Oyo pilgrims screened

    200 Oyo pilgrims screened

    As part of efforts to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), about 200 pilgrims from Oyo State were yesterday screened by officials of the Port Health Services before their departure to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    It was learnt that the pilgrims, who arrived about 2.30pm in five luxury buses, would be flown aboard a Med-View Airline aircraft between 7 pm and 8 pm.

    The pilgrims were screened by Port Health officials with the infrared thermometers.

    Other agencies involved  in the exercise include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Aviation Security (AVSEC).

    At the Hajj Camp at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, (MMA),Lagos, the pilgrims were queuing for the test by the officials  Port Health Services, who had set up three counters to screen the pilgrims.

    Speaking to reporters on the EVD screening, one of the pilgrims, Mrs Sherifat Moshudi, said she is happy about the screening.

  • Pilgrims warned on use of sanitisers in Saudi Arabia

    Pilgrims warned on use of sanitisers in Saudi Arabia

    Intending pilgrims have been advised not to be panicky over the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) when they get to Saudi Arabia.

    Operations Manager of Hajj Mabrur Ventures Ltd (HMVL) Alhaji Zulkifli Adewunmi gave the advice when the pilgrims asked if they would be provided sanitisers before leaving Nigeria.

    Adewunmi spoke at a seminar organised by HMVL for the pilgrims at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Mosque Auditorium in Akoka, Yaba.

    The use of sanitisers, he said, should be pronounced here and not Saudi Arabia.

    “We should avoid putting ourselves in an inconvenient situation by unnecessarily displaying sanitisers at the airport in Saudi Arabia. By the time their immigration officials noticed many pilgrims holding sanitisers, they might subject you to undue rounds of check that would add to the stress of travelling. If you must go with sanitisers, be decorous in its usage,” he said.

    A Consultant Nephrologist at Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos, Dr AbdulWasi Busari, educated the pilgrims on the use of sanitisers.

    According to him, pilgrims should handle sanitizers just like pomade or Vaseline and other personal belongings.

    Busari said: “It is not something that should be displayed that people will now know that you have something that you are carrying; you do not create unnecessary panic for other pilgrims from other countries. It is more or less like your personal belonging like bathing soap or whatever so it should not cause any controversy. In fact, people need to use the sanitisers more here than in Saudi Arabia because we’ve not heard of any established case there, the sanitiser they are talking about is something they should start using now and if they have the opportunity to take it along, they should put it in their bag, and not display or use it often to avoid panic.”

    He enjoined them to continue their personal hygiene on getting to the Holy Land.

    “They should not unnecessarily expose themselves to the intensity of the weather, you know sometimes it could be very hot in that place so they are always advised not to go out when the weather is too hot and that they should find time to go for Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka’abah) maybe in the morning or at night that the weather is already cooler, then they should not unnecessarily exert themselves because Hajj exercise itself is a rigorous one, they should not spend so much time and energy engaging in all sorts of shopping so as not to break down when it’s time for the main exercise,” he said.

  • Hajj: Medview Airlines to air lift 5,303 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    Hajj: Medview Airlines to air lift 5,303 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    As part of preparations for this year’s  Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, one of the designated carriers : Medview Airlines disclosed yesterday that it would air lift over 5,303 pilgrims to the Holy Land.

    Two Boeing 767-300 ER aircrafts have arrived the country for the exercise.

    The exercise will commence today from the Ilorin International Airport, where the  Boeing 767 – 300 ER aircraft acquired by the airline has been positioned.

    The 5,303 Muslim pilgrims to be air lifted by Medview Airlines are part of the 15,000 pilgrims participating in the annual exercise .

    Pilgrims designated to be air lifted by Medview Airlines are those from the South – West, South – South and South – Eastern zones of the country .

    The pilgrims from South – West include those from: Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo States as well as the Armed Forces.

    Confirming the development in an interview, the  Managing Director, Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the exercise would commence today from Ilorin International Airport .

    He explained  that pilgrims from the South-west except Lagos; Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo States and Armed Forces would be airlifted from the Lagos Airport while the South-south and South-east passengers would be airlifted from Port- Harcourt and Enugu Airports respectively.

    He said, “We are using at the moment, four airports and we are picking the Eastern people from Enugu, south-south from Port Harcourt and Ondo, Ekiti from Ilorin and other parts of the south-west from Lagos, bringing the business to the doors of the people from their states and exposing a new trend to their comforts.

    We are taking 5,303 passengers in all except other cities outside the West African countries, which we do support.

    “We are flying direct to Medina, which is 100 per cent fulfillment of our commitment to our pilgrims. So, what this means is that we are taking away the stress where pilgrims would be dropped in Jeddah and they would be using buses to carry them to Medina thereby exposing them to risks for about six to eight hours on the road.

    So, we drop them directly in Medina. We have fulfilled that now in the last two years and they are very happy about that.”

    Two  Boeing 757 -300 extended range aircraft belonging to Med-View Airline yesterday arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos .