Jigawa Airlifts 420 Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

The first batch of 420 intending Pilgrims from Jigawa state has departed through Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi International Airport Dutse for Saudi Arabia.

The the pilgrims were air lifted at about 10:59am from Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi International Airport, Dutse, on Monday.

Addressing the pilgrims who were conveyed by Max Air, Governor Umar Namadi urged them to be good ambassadors of the state in particular and Nigeria as a country while in Saudi Arabia.

The governor however, urged the intending pilgrims to strictly abide by the laws and guidelines of both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia during their stay for the Hajj exercise.

Namadi who was accompanied by the Emir of Hadejia, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, who is also the Jigawa State Amirul Hajj, Emir of Dutse Hamim Nuhu Muhammad and other Senior government officials during the inaugural flight, requested the intending pilgrims to pray for the people and government of Jigawa State and Nigeria at large.

On his part, the Director General, Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board Alhaji Ahmad Umar Labbo reaffirmed that all every necessary arrangements has been concluded for the smooth airlifting of the state intending pilgrims within the time frame given by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Labbo also assured that, the next batches comprising the second and third flights will subsequently be announced in due course.

He urged the remaining intending pilgrims to stay ready as any moment from now, the Board may call them to the Hajj camp for screening prior to their departure to the Holly land.

Our correspondent reports that, at the moment, 420 out of the 1293 intending pilgrims from Jigawa state, were so far airlifted.