Kwara pilgrims to depart for Hajj on May 6—8

The Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced a revised departure schedule for intending pilgrims from the state, who will now travel to the Holy Land on May 6, 7, and 8.

The board’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji AbdulKadri Abdulsalam, disclosed the change on Sunday during an enlightenment programme for pilgrims in Ilorin, explaining that the airline had adjusted the original schedule, which had listed May 6, 7, and 9 as departure dates. Under the revised arrangement, two flights will depart on May 6, with one flight each on May 7 and 8.

Abdulsalam described the enlightenment exercise as a core responsibility of the board, saying it would be unfair to collect Hajj fares from pilgrims without equipping them with the knowledge required to perform the pilgrimage properly.

“It would be unfair for us to collect N7.7 million from a pilgrim without teaching the person how to perform Hajj. We believe we have a duty before Allah to properly guide the pilgrims,” he said.

He said the training would cover the use of ihram, the performance of tawaf and sa’i, and other rites pilgrims would undertake upon arrival in Makkah.

A prototype of the Kaaba has been provided to facilitate practical demonstrations, and the Grand Khadi of Kwara State will lead the exercise.

Abdulsalam added that vaccination of pilgrims would commence on April 27, with the immunisation exercise expected to be completed within the week depending on turnout.

Health officials, he said, would be on ground daily from 9 a.m. Uniforms and travel bags were also ready for distribution.

He urged pilgrims to approach the journey with patience and resilience, cautioning that Hajj was neither a luxury nor a jamboree.

“There may be challenges along the way, but pilgrims must take everything in good faith as they perform one of the pillars of Islam,” he said.