* 926 Lagos pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia
No fewer than 926 out of a total number of 1,869 pilgrims that participated in the 2024 Hajj from the State have been airlifted back home as at Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
The Amirul Hajj of Lagos State, who is also the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode has also called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to convene a meeting with all States to discuss the challenges faced during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and how to avoid a reoccurrences.
He made the call on Tuesday while addressing a press conference at the Alsaad Flower Hotel 2, Misfalah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
He said, “We had a lot of challenges and most of them are from NAHCON”.
The Amir-ul-Hajj specifically said that the caterer selected to provide meals for the State’s pilgrims was using his own wisdom and discretion to select menu that is not favourable to the people of the South West.
He added that the pilgrims almost protested at Mina and many of them rejected the meals served and chose to go and buy food from vendors.
Hon. Layode also said that even the accommodation provided for Lagos pilgrims in Makkah was not up to standard. He however, said despite these challenges, he disagrees with the call for the scrapping of NAHCON, saying, “you can’t throw away the baby with the bath water”
Speaking further, he said “ NAHCON themselves have agreed that there have been challenges this year which I believe as a Government, we need to come together to sit down on a round table discussion and point to them some of these challenges and mistakes and find solutions to them against the Hajj of 2025”.
The Commissioner expressed his appreciation to Lagos State pilgrims for their patience and endurances, stressing that he is very proud of their conducts despites obvious operational challenges. He also assured the remaining 943 pilgrims that they would be airlifted back in a short while.
He took the opportunity of the press conference to thank the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support, especially in the area of providing the shortfall of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to the pilgrims and also offsetting the cost of Rams, amongst other kind gestures.
Government functionaries at the press briefing include, Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Chairman, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam (Engr.) Shakiru Ayinde Gafar; Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede and Prof. Kabir Paramole (Badagry division).
Others are Dr. (Mrs.) Faosat Dabiri (Lagos division); Alh. Yusuf Ara (Epe division); Alh. Mojeed Sanni (Ikorodu division) and Hon. Lolade Shonibare (Ikeja division/Chairman, Publicity committee).
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