By Otori Ozigi.
Barring any last minute change in flight schedule, no fewer than 468 registered and screened intending Pilgrims for this year’s Hajj will depart from Kogi State to Saudi Arabia, tomorrow, May 22, 2024, from their Hajj camp in FCT Abuja.
Investigations conducted by this independent Journalist during the week indicate that these Pilgrims have started arriving Lokoja from their various Local Governments for the onward journey tomorrow morning to Abuja where the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in keeping with tradition, is expected to address them formally before their departure to the Holy Land.
Although, the figure for last year’s Pilgrims was not readily available in the course of our investigation, there are strong indications that the figure might have dropped significantly due to the present economic quagmire of the country, and the difficulties faced by many Muslims who would have ordinarily wished to perform Hajj as a part of the injunctions of the Muslim Ummah.
The DG of the Pilgrims Board, Sheikh Lukman, a devoted, commited and highly respected Islamic figure in the State and in Nigeria at large, was said to be very busy putting the finishing touches for the success of tomorrow’s departure at the time of this investigation, even though, this is not the first Hajj under Lukman’s watch.
In line with well established tradition, our indefatigable and amiable Governor, who is also a pious Muslim himself, is expected to give them words of exhortation before their departure to this year’s Hajj operation to Saudi Arabia.
Recall that a Muslim is under obligation to perform, at least, one Hajj in their lifetime in line with Islamic injunctions.
We wish them a successful Hajj and for their safety, to and fro.
