Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde declared in Ibadan on Wednesday that pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will soon be able to fly straight from Ibadan Airport.
The Governor, who made the pledge at the send forth programme for the 2019 intending pilgrims from the state, also charged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Oyo state.
A statement by Governor Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, further quoted the Governor as saying that the new government in Oyo state would complete the abandoned Administrative Complex in the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan.
He said: “I want to admonish you to be good ambassadors of Oyo State in Saudi and to showcase our pacesetter appellation in acts and indeed”
The Governor, while addressing the pilgrims at the Hajj Camp, Olodo in Ibadan ahead of their departure to the Holy Land, also urged them to shun any act that could tarnish the image of the state.
He said: “You should shun illicit and prohibited items like drugs and kolanuts because if any of these are found in your possession, it is an offence which carries the death penalty.
“I also want to admonish you to be good Ambassadors of Oyo State in Saudi Arabia and showcase our Pacesetter Appellation in acts and in deeds.”
He said that his government would ensure Pilgrims from the State will be airlifted directly from Ibadan Airport, Alakia to Murtala International Airport, Lagos before the expiration of his tenure.
He, therefore, assured the Pilgrims and the entire Muslim community in the state that his administration will make efforts to complete the abandoned projects within this Hajj Camp and make the camp more befitting for the usage.
“The Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board was established in 1976 as the first organized Pilgrim’s Welfare Board in Nigeria. This Hajj Camp was commissioned in 1990, while the abandoned administrative staff block was awarded in November 2010 but has not been completed after almost nine years. Let me assure you that we will complete this project “.
He enjoined all intending Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to pray for Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole.
Earlier, in an address, Prof Sayed Malik, the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Muslim Wing) disclosed that 900 intending pilgrims would participate in the 2019 pilgrim operation from the state.
Malik promised that the board would do its best in ensuring that the pilgrims from the state were well taken care of in the holy land.
