A total of 560 Muslim pilgrims from Kwara State were on Monday airlifted to Saudi Arabia via Max Air.
The pilgrims, who were in high spirit, were airlifted from the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, at about 12.40pm.
The executive secretary of Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alh. Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, thanked Allah for making the inaugural flight for 2025 Hajj operation from Ilorin possible.
He also thanked the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his efforts at ensuring that the pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia right at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin.
He disclosed that a total of 2,174 pilgrims from the state will be airlifted in four flight schedules.
The chairman of the Board, Professor Mashood Mahmood Jimba, alongside the Amirul Hajj and Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, urged the pilgrims to exhibit good conduct, and represent the state and the country with dignity throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.
A government delegation including the senior adviser/counselor to the governor, Alh. Saadu Salahu, Dr Ghali Alaaya, special adviser on Special Duties, Alh AbdulRazaq Jiddah, and the senior special assistant on Religion (Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro, were at the airport to bid the pilgrims farewell.
