2015 Hajj: 2,534 intending pilgrims to be airlifted from Ilorin Zone – Source
- nationalpilot
- Aug 9, 2015
- 3 min read
No fewer than 2,534 intending pilgrims for 2015 Hajj pilgrimage will be airlifted from Ilorin zone, the Kwara State capital, Pilot Aviation can report.
The Ilorin Zone of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) comprises three states with the numbers of the intending pilgrims as Kwara 1,942, Ekiti 282 and Ondo, 310 respectively.
A reliable source made the disclosure during an interview with this medium on Saturday in Ilorin.
The source stressed that though Hajj operations starts on 18th August nationwide but Ilorin operations will begin on the 23rd of August.
According to the source, arrangements have been made with Saudi carriers Fly- Nas airline for the operations.
On sensitisation, the source stressed that "has been having series of discussions with the various states' directors of pilgrims boards and sensitisation programmes are still ongoing as I'm talking to you now."
He source urged intending pilgrims to be law-abiding and good ambassadors of Nigeria when they are in the holy land.
The total number of this year intending pilgims is more that the 2014 pilgrims which was 2,531.
*402 soldiers to perform hajj
The Director of Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army, Col. Shehu Mustapha, yesterday, said that 402 members of the military, their families and friends would participate in the 2015 Hajj.
Mustapha made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on the directorate’s preparations during an awareness programme at the Directorate of Islamic Affairs complex, Bonny Cantonment, Lagos on Sunday.
He said the directorate began the awareness lecture on Saturday, adding that the Sunday's activity was to practicalise what the intending pilgrims would do, how and where to do it.
“It is a known fact that performing the pilgrimage is one of the pillars in Islam and any act of worship must be done with knowledge. If it is done without knowledge, one is bound to make mistakes.
“Performing the hajj has rules, regulations and procedures. These procedures are not known to most Muslim faithful.
“That is why we called members of the military, their families and friends who wish to go to Mecca through the directorate to teach them what they need to know and do.
“There are other issues intending pilgrims need to know. First is discipline. Nigerians are going to meet the whole world in the holy land and they need to be disciplined.
“We told them how to behave, talk and about obedience to law.
“We’ve talked about code of conduct. We have printed out the code of conduct for every intending pilgrim; it contains the dos and don’ts.
“We also talked about security, personal security, property, travelling allowance and transportation, accommodation in the holy land, health issues, personal hygiene and things to avoid.
“We discussed the three different ways they will perform the hajj, how, where and whom they would do it with.
“We told them all the procedures for Jawaf at Kaabar and all the basic things they need to know,’’ he said.
Mustapha said a similar exercise would be done in Abuja, adding that those who missed the Lagos exercise would benefit from the Abuja event.
He, therefore, called on intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the military and their families and urged them to pray for the country, the president and peace of the land.
Speaking on the sideline of the programme, some of the participants described it as educating, incisive and worthwhile.
Mrs. Afisat Bello, wife of a soldier, said that she was able to know some facts about pilgrimage.
Another soldier’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Sadiq, said the programme was timely and revealing.
“The programme is very educating. Going through the practical of how you perform hajj is quite interesting and will help us when we get to Mecca.’’
“The mini Kaabar stage is very good to teach people,’’ said Ibrahim Lima, an official of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Nasil Marafa, a civilian, who had performed the hajj, said the programme reminded him of some of the things he had forgotten.
The bags and uniform were distributed to participants, including giving them three vaccinations against Yellow Fever, Cerebra Spinal Meningitis (CSM) and Oral Polo.
コメント