By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

Lagos state Government yesterday said no fewer than 3,120 intending pilgrims from the state will be airlifted to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia for this year’s Haji pilgrimage.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and the Secretary of the Lagos State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sanusi Kamal who both spoke to Vanaguard yesterday in an interview, said that all arrangements had been concluded to commence a hitch-free airlifting of the pilgrims for the yearly hajj rites.

According to Kamal, “The first flight from the state to Mecca is scheduled for Saturday Sept 14th and it would be concluded on Sept 19th.”

He noted that “Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alh. Oyinlomo Danmole would lead them to the holy land, as the Amir Hajj for the state.”

The secretary said “the pilgrims had been properly enlightened on how to conduct themselves during the pilgrimage.”

On the outbreak of Corrolla virus, Ibirogba said “We have done the right enlightenment on how the pilgrims can properly conduct themselves in Mecca and how they could be safe especially with the outbreak of Corrolla Virus in Saudi Arabia.”

Ibirogba explained that “the enlightenment was done in all the 20 Local Governments in the state, to sensitize the intending pilgrims on hygiene.”

The commissioner added “We expect that the pilgrims will keep to all they have been told and be good ambassadors of the state.”

He appealed to all intending pilgrims to abide by the rules of the country and Saudi Arabia, saying “this is the only way to have an easy exercise.”

“Though the policy of the state government is that all intending pilgrims must declare whatever they have with them before leaving the state,” he added.

Ibirogba assured the pilgrims saying “The state is ready for this year`s Hajj and Insha Allah, it is going to be a successful one.”