Seven female intending pilgrims from Kwara have been disqualified from performing the 2016 Hajji for being pregnant. The Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajia Fatimah Abolore-Jimoh, discolsed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday.

She said the affected women who had paid their Hajj fares in full were discovered to be pregnant during screening conducted by the board. The scribe said the board took the decision because the safety women and the unborn babies.

"The seven women were detected to be pregnant during the medical screening. "They were disqualified because it a risk to allow them make the trip to the holy land," the executive secretary said. Abolore-Jimoh said that the women have been informed of their disqualification by the board.

She said the board was ready to refund turn the Hajj fares paid by the women. Meanwhile, the executive secretary also warned all intending pilgrims against taking kolanuts and palm oil to Makkah during the pilgrimage. "Kolanut and palm oil are prohibited by the Saudi Arabia authority," she said.

According to her, the board has put in place a perfect arrangement in Makkah and Madinah for the comfort of all intending pilgrims. NAN recalls that no fewer than 1,973 and 10 officials are expected to perform this year’s Hajj from the state.