By Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board has so far airlifted a total number of two thousand one hundred and fifty one of its intending Pilgrims to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s pilgrimage.
The Board reveal this after it airlifted the seventh flight of the Pilgrims from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria’s capital to Medinah, Saudi Arabia.
The flight, Air Peace flight _APK7916_ departed Abuja to Madinah @ 15:03 hrs Nigeria time with 310 FCT Pilgrims and other from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The flight comprised of a total of one hundred and eighty five (185, ) male and one hundred and twenty five (125) female.
The seventh flight carrying the FCT contingents is expected to land in Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport at 8 pm Nigeria Time.
According to the Director of the Board, Malam Abubakar Adamu Evuti the Board has received support from the FCT Administration so far towards hitch free 2024 Hajj rites by Pilgrims from the territory.
Evuti, who disclosed that the administration has also secures a befitting accommodation in Makkah for the intending pilgrims, added that this singular initiative would enable the intending pilgrims to perform their five daily obligatory prayers at the holy Masjid with ease.
He assured the Pilgrims that experienced and committed officials were mobilized for the operation to ensure optimum service delivery, so that the intending pilgrims attain Hajj Mabrur.
Evuti however, warned that the board would not tolerate any act of indiscipline, as anybody found wanting during the exercise would have himself or herself to blame.
He called on the pilgrims to be good ambassador of Nigeria in their host country by be law abiding throughout their stay at the Holy land.
It could be recall that a total of 2,977 pilgrims will perform this year’s Hajj in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the FCT.
Meanwhile, with the already airlift of a total of 2,151 so far, it’s now remain a total of Eight hundred and twenty six more to complete the process.
The airlift of the first set of the 2024 Pilgrims from the FCT commenced on the 15th May, 2024.
In a related development, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has inaugurated a 7-man committee to ensure the implementation of the administration policies and programmes as they affect the Muslim pilgrims, as well as the welfare board 2024 Hajj operation both onshore and offshore.
During the inauguration, the minister said that FCT was among the three states, FCT, Nasarawa, and Kebbi that were first to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the chairman of the committee and Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy Administration and Strategy, Dr. Abdullahi Isah Kauramata, thanked the FCT Administration for the confidence reposed in the committee.
He emphasised that the confidence will serve as a stimulant for members to deliver on their mandate.
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