A total of 388 pilgrims from Lagos State have departed for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Their departure, which marks the first batch of pilgrims from the state, took place on Monday.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Adebayo, the pilgrims left the pilgrims and cargo terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on board a FLYNAS airline Airbus A330-300 with registration number XY8410.
She said that the airline took off at exactly 5:42 p.m., Nigerian time on Monday, with 167 males and 221 females.
She also said that the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Layode among other government functionaries were present at the airport to bid farewell to the intending pilgrims.
She quoted Layode as urging the intending pilgrims to prioritise their spiritual growth by being focused and performing all the Hajj rites as prescribed by the Holy Prophet.
According to Layode, the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is very passionate about their well-being and comfort, hence, the series of largesse and free medical screening exercise organised for them in 10 different locations across the state.
He urged them to be good ambassadors of the state by obeying the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia and conducting themselves as responsible citizens of Nigeria throughout their stay in the Kingdom.
Similarly, the board Secretary, Mr AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin called on pilgrims to shun any act that would tarnish the image of the state and Nigeria in general and encouraged them to be law abiding.
He disclosed that the transportation of other pilgrims would continue on Tuesday (today) as scheduled by NAHCON.
He added that there would be a break on Wednesday, while the exercise would continue on Thursday through Saturday.
According to him, Saturday’s flight to Saudi Arabia will be the last for the exercise.
NAN
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