Date: 2018-02-19

The Saudi Arabian Government has warned that it will shutdown its visa website in the first week of May this year to all intending pilgrims for this year's pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to allow for a successful planning and hitch free hajj exercise.

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh made the announcement in Ilorin , the State capital while answering questions on a Radio Kwara personality interview programme , Playing Host .

According to him , the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Government on the need to adhere strictly by all the rules and regulations guiding as well as the calendar the 2018 hajj.

Alhaji Jimoh said towards this end, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed the pilgrim boards of all the thirty six States of the federation including that of the FCT , Abuja to abide by the hajj calendar and commence in earnest the 2018 hajj exercise.

The Executive Secretary disclosed that the Kwara state pilgrims welfare board had since November last year, begun the preparations for the 2018 exercise with the online registration of intending pilgrims from the state via a website.

According to him ,so far , over one thousand , four hundred and twenty one applications have been received from intending pilgrims but out of this number , one thousand and twenty two have paid the sum of one point three million Naira which is the deposit for this year's pilgrimage .

Alhaji Jimoh disclosed that kwara state was allocated two thousand, two hundred and twenty one slots this year adding that NACON has therefore extended till the end of this month for the deadline for the payment of the hajj exercise .

He assured pilgrims from the state of adequate accommodation , transportation , medical and feeding in the Holy land and appealed to all intending pilgrims to adhere strictly by all the rules and regulations of the Saudi Authorities in terms of luggages and guide against carrying contrabands.

The Executive Secretary commended the Senate President , Doctor Bukola Saraki, the State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed , the secretary to the state government , Alhaji Isaika Gold and other stake holders for ensuring a smooth and hitch free hajj exercise last year and pledged that the board would improve on this year pilgrimage.

According to him , the board had carried out enlightenment programmes to the various local government areas of the state in different languages and commended the federal government for the renovation done at the Ilorin International Airport and at the processing office of the airport and announced that the board would soon commence lesser hajj (Umrah) operations.

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