The Kwara State Government has commenced arrangements for the 2026 Hajj exercise, as the first contingent of pilgrims departed Ilorin for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking the official take-off of the state’s pilgrimage operations for the year.
A total of 374 pilgrims, accompanied by two officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and one state official, were part of the inaugural flight.
According to a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state is sending a total of 1,714 pilgrims for this year’s spiritual exercise.
The statement noted that the pioneer batch left the General Tunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a Max Air aircraft at about 3 p.m., heading to Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
It stated, “374 intending pilgrims departed the General Tunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a Max Air aircraft, which took off at about 3 p.m. en route Madinah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
At the farewell ceremony, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Saadu Salaudeen, urged the pilgrims to uphold discipline and act as worthy representatives of the state and Nigeria.
“Our message to pilgrims from Kwara State this year centres on the need for them to behave as good representatives and ambassadors of Kwara State in particular and Nigeria in general and to make sure they comply with all the laws and regulations of the host country, Saudi Arabia,” the governor said.
He also encouraged them to pray for peace, unity, and stability in both Kwara State and Nigeria, stressing strict adherence to instructions from Saudi authorities and pilgrimage officials.
“We advise all of them to make sure they listen to the directives of Amirul Hajj, our father, His Royal Highness the Etsu Tsaragi, who is the Amirul Hajj for this year, leading the delegation, and all the officials of the Kwara State Pilgrims Board,” the governor said.
Governor AbdulRazaq further prayed for a smooth and successful Hajj exercise and for the safe return of all the pilgrims.
The Amirul Hajj and Etsu Tsaragi, Abdullahi Aliyu, pledged full commitment to the welfare and proper coordination of the pilgrims throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.
“I want to reiterate that when His Excellency announced my appointment as the leader of the delegation from the state, being Amirul Hajj, I made a pledge before him that we are not going to let him down and inshallah we are going to perform the roles that we are assigned to perform. We will make sure that Kwara pilgrims have the best this year and inshallah we are going to take care of their well-being over there,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, commended the governor for promptly approving all necessary arrangements to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims.
“They will be going to Madinah straight away. We have our officials going with them, not only officials, we have medical doctors and nurses going with them, to be well taken care of.”
He added that arrangements had been made for proper feeding, including provisions from home.
“We have contacted our kitchen. They are still there waiting for them to be welcomed and be well fed, inshallah. As you can see from the plane too, we are even going with our local food. I’m sure you saw from the cabin there, we are loading yam flour, pounded yam and garri, to ensure that at least they will not lose the taste of home food,” the Executive Secretary added.
