The initial batch of Hajj pilgrims from Lagos State has arrived back in the country.
On Tuesday, the state announced that 380 Hajj pilgrims returned from Saudi Arabia on Monday.
These pilgrims departed from Jeddah’s King AbdulAzeez International Airport, aboard Flynas Airline XY 7656, at 11:30 am Saudi Arabian time. They landed at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja around 4 pm on Monday.
The Amir-ul-Hajj, Anofiu Elegushi, issued a statement describing the flight as “special” and stated that it accommodated elderly individuals, people with medical challenges, and others.
The statement also revealed that “there were 185 male and 195 female pilgrims, led by AbdulWaheed Shonibare, a member of the state’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, representing the Ikeja division.”
Elegushi emphasized that as “new Alhajis and Alhajas,” the pilgrims were akin to “newly-born babies without any sins.” According to Islamic principles, their newly acquired status would remain intact for at least 41 days if they could refrain from committing sins.
The Amir-ul-Hajj urged the remaining pilgrims to be patient, assuring them that necessary arrangements had been made to ensure their prompt airlift back to Nigeria.
Taofeek Lawal, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, confirmed the pilgrims’ arrival to our correspondent on Tuesday, stating, “The pilgrims’ flight landed at the MMIA around 4 pm on Monday.”