Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday visited the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin to bid farewell to the fifth batch of the state’s pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Recalling some hitches recorded last year, the Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for putting in place necessary measures to improve Hajj operations this year.
“You can see that the pilgrims are happy. There is a huge improvement. I would like to thank the Federal Government for the improvement on the airport. The airfield lightning is back and better. Last year, our pilgrims had to fly through Lagos because facilities were not in place. This flight is going directly to Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“So, once again, I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for looking into the welfare of the pilgrims with all the facilities they put in place for the flights to go smoothly.”
Accompanied by the Chairman State Muslim Welfare Board Prof Moshood Mahmud Jimba, AbdulRazaq urged the pilgrims to pray for unity and progress of the country in the holy land, and to be good ambassadors of the state.
The Governor’s visit, as always, drew applauses from the pilgrims, who, in turn, appreciated him and prayed for God’s guidance and mercies for him to succeed in office.
The Governor was also accompanied on the visit by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi; Majority Leader Hon. Oba Magaji Abdulkadir; Clerk of the House Alhaji Kareem Ahmed; and Special Adviser (Special Duties) Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah.
Prof Jimba, for his part, said the Governor has been supportive towards the success of all the programme and activities of the Board.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji AbdulSalam Abdulkadir advised this year’s intending pilgrims from state to abide by the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia and that of the hajj activities.
The Public Relations Officer of the Board, Hajia Jumoke Jimoh reports that the 5th batch of 315 intending pilgrims from the state boarded Air-Peace Airline departed to Saudi Arabia at about 11:18am.
