150 Oyo State’s Intending Pilgrims To Miss This Year’s Hajj
Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik, has said 150 intending pilgrims from the state would not be unable to perform the 2022 Hajj exercise.
Professor Sayed Malik disclosed this during a press conference held at the State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan.
He said, the state Governor, Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to intending pilgrims.
Also read: 2022 Hajj: 250 Intending Pilgrims from Lagos Denied Entry By Saudi Govt.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik expressed regret that 150 of the state’s intending pilgrims could not take part in this year’s Hajj due to some circumstances beyond the board’s control.
He said Governor Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to whomever among the intending pilgrims wishes to collect his/her money, while those that intend to use their money for the 2023 pilgrimage, would be the first to be considered for the exercise.
Professor Malik explained that they would not make any additional payment to the one they have already made this year as part of measures to compensate them.
On the issue of Basic Travelling Allowance of the pilgrims, Professor Malik maintained that the board officials did not short-change the pilgrims or divert the funds meant for payment of their BTA contrary to speculations in some quarters.
He however made it clear that all pilgrims from the state had gotten their BTA.
Professor Malik noted that the last batch of Oyo State pilgrims which consisted of 60 persons had been airlifted to Saudi Arabia on Monday 4th July 2022.
The third batch of Oyo State which was the last batch consisted 238 pilgrims left Muritala International Airport in Lagos at 5:20 pm on Saturday evening, landed at the Abdul Azeez International Airport Medina in Saudi Arabia at 10:50 pm on the same day.
Among the 238 pilgrims are Commissioner of Information, Cultures and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Professor Babatunde Musbaudeen as well as the Commissioner of Education, Barrister Abdul Rahman Abdul Raheem.
Other members of the contingent are the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Islamic Affairs Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Abdul-Azeez, the Head of Service Alhaja Hamdalat Agboola, the Vice Chairman State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Dr Ibrahim Adebolu and the Board’s Secretary, Alhaja Olanipekun.
Source: Western Daily News
