Leadership (Abuja)
11 November 2008
About of 430 intending Muslim pilgrims from Ondo and Kwara States have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia from Ilorin International Airport, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Med-View Airline official, Mr Lookman Animashaun, who monitored the exercise told NAN that the 430 pilgrims were airlifted in two batches on Sunday and Monday.
According to the airline official, a total of 3, 110 intending Muslim pilgrims from Kwara, Ekiti and Ondo states would be airlifted from Ilorin airport within 13 days.
He said that Med-View Airline would soon introduce a bigger plane with capacity to airlift over 300 passengers at once.
Animashaun said that the airline would stick to the scheduled 13 days and assured the Kwara state government of its commitment to carry out the assignment.
In his remark, the Amirul-Hajj and Speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon. Issa Bio Ibrahim, commended Med-View Airline for the successful take-off of the operation.
The Speaker said Kwara has 2,370 pilgrims, followed by 380 from Ekiti and 360 from Ondo states, respectively.
According to him, the state Pilgrims Board was doing everything possible to have a smooth operation by avoiding the mistakes of previous exercises.
"To avoid mix-up of luggage in Saudi Arabia , each state has its own colour identification, said the Amirul Hajj.
He said that each pilgrim was entitled to 40kg checking-in luggage while handbag is 10 Kg, adding that pilgrims would be responsible for any extra luggage.
The Speaker advised the intending pilgrims to conduct themselves well in the Holy Land and to comply with all the Hajj operation ethics and regulations.(NAN)
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