Pilgrims shut Ilorin Airport over delayed flight to Saudi Arabia

Date: 2019-07-29

About 500 intending pilgrims from Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara States and part of Oyo in the early hours of Monday disrupted activities at Ilorin Airport to protest the delay in their flight to Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims who began their protest around 3:00 a.m. blocked Ilorin/Ogbomoso/Ibadan Expressway with old tyres and shut the gate leading to the Airport.

The protesters who blocked the gate did not allow Airport workers to resume duty as they prevented vehicles from coming in or going out of the Airport.

They alleged that they had been in the Ilorin Hajj camp for the past 15 days without provision of an aircraft to convey them to Saudi Arabia for the Holy Pilgrimage. They alleged that they were subjected to poor and unhygienic condition at the Camp.

One of the protesters who identified himself as Ayobami Muftau said, "We have been in camp for 15 days sleeping on the bare floor and buying food at exorbitant prices from our purse. We were moved to the Airport on Saturday based on the promise that an aircraft would arrive to convey us to Jeddah at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. Till now, we have not seen the aircraft and there was no explanation from the concerned authority. "

Ayobami appealed to the Federal government to come to their aid by providing aircraft that would transport them to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rites.

Another pilgrim from Ekiti state, Usman Isa, who said that they left Aiyede-Ekiti ten days ago alleged that the pilgrims were exposed to harsh weather conditions as "all of us, both male and female were made to sleep in the open hall at the hajj camp and Airport."

However, the acting Manager of Ilorin Airport, Mr Deji Eniola said that the problem facing the pilgrims emanated from the airline delegated to convey them to Saudi Arabia.

He explained that the airline had been expected to send an aircraft to Ilorin since Saturday but did not come. He added, "There was no explanation from the management of the Airline on why it had not come to airlift the pilgrims. " He expressed hope that the pilgrims would be airlifted soon.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Folashade Omoniyi     Ilorin South Constituency     Kannike     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Oyawoye     Raheem Adaramaja     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     National Broadcasting Commission     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Zara Umar     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Valsolar     Umar Saro     Local Government Pension Board     Alapado     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Just Event Online     Hassanat Bello     Saad Belgore     Tafidan Kaiama     ENetSuD     Aiyedun     Akanbi-Oke     Quranic Recitation Competition     COEASU     Bank Of Industry     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     AGM Professional Services     Seed Technologies     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Isiaq Khadeejah     Femi Agbaje     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Memunat Monsuma     Elections     Adebayo Salami     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Ajasse-Ipo     Elerin Of Adanla     Lateef Fagbemi     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     National Democratic Congress     Agor Market     Abdulkarim Adisa     08001000100     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Opobiyi     Onikijipa     Shehu Jimoh     Alanamu     EFCC     Kwara State Football Association     Oyun     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Galland Marcias     Bayo Lawal     Adamu Atta     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Oluwole Dupe     Osinbajo     Demola Banu     Kunle Suleiman     Tsaragi-Share     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Shuaibu Yaman     UNIFEMGA     Iyabo Adewuyi     Amule Elementary School     Mohammed Lawal     Harmony Holdings     Bahago     Na\'Allah     TETFUND     Kulende-UITH    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Falokun-Oja     Yemi Osinbajo     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Adamu Attah     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Owu Fall     Muhammed Akanbi     Bolakale Saka     Tunji Arosanyin     Kamaldeen Gambari     Harafat E. Mukadam     Ajikobi     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Ilorin General Hospital     GAMA     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Bello Oyebanji     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Lateef Alagbonsi     Edret Sabi Abel     Jaiz Bank     Yusuf Badmus     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Dasuki Belgore     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Mufutau Olatinwo     Malete     Mohammed Yisa     JMK Construction Company Limited     Kaiama     Abegunde Goke     Samari     Baboko     Gamji Members Association     Nigerian Medical Association     Abdulfatai Baakini     Amosa     Magaji Erubu     IHS Towers     Pakata     Jide Oyinloye     Abatemi-Usman     Oloyede     PharmAccess Foundation     Bature Bello     Ndama Al-hassan     TESCOM 2025     Lanre Jimoh     Dorcas Afeniforo     Olayinka Olaogun     Muhammadu Gobir     Oyin-Zubair     Akume     Tunji Moronfoye     MAI Akande     Abraham Ojo     CACOVID     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Modibbo Kawu     Mashood Dauda     Air Peace     Mubarak Oladosu     Saliu Oluwole     Just Law Forum     Tafidan Kaiama     Omoniyi Ayinla     Jawondo     Okin High School     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Ilorin Curfew     Adaramaja     20 Billion Bond     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Alfa Belgore     Aisha Buhari