The first batch of intending pilgrims from Kwara State will depart for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage on 12 May 2025 via Ilorin International Airport, as arrangements by the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board have been finalised.

Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, Executive Secretary of the Board, announced the schedule during an awareness session for pilgrims held at the agency's offices in Ilorin. He confirmed that vaccinations for all state applicants have been completed, along with the distribution of uniforms and travel bags.

The Executive Secretary stated that Kwara State will deploy four flights, each carrying 550 pilgrims, for a total of 2,174 intending pilgrims.

The take off date for the four scheduled flights, the Executive Secretary stated, would be 12th May for the first batch of the intending pilgrims, second batch will be on the 14th, third batch will be taking their turn on the 16th, while intending pilgrims for the last batch are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on the 17th of May, 2025.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Professor Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, called on intending pilgrims to desist from abusive words before, during and after their stay on the plane of Arafat in order to have a holy pilgrimage exercise.

In his lecture, the Grand Khadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen advised the intending pilgrims to perform their pilgrimage with the utmost fear of Allah.

Justice Kamaldeen enjoined them to be patient while in the Holy Land to have a successful Hajj exercise.

In their separate remarks, the representative of Federal Airport Authority, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service and FOMWAN advised the intending pilgrims to follow the rules and regulations of the Hajj exercise while in Saudi Arabia and be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large.

A major highlight of the programme was a demonstration on how to perform Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the steps and procedures intending pilgrims are expected to follow during the pilgrimage exercise.