Kano — Minister of Special Duties, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, yesterday said pilgrims who flout rule of Saudi Arabian government will be sent back to the country immediately.

Kazaure said to sanitise the yearly pilgrimage, authorities in Aaudi Arabia have decreed that pregnant women, persons above 65 years of age and those below 18 years would not be allowed to perform this year's Hajj.

It also emphasised the prohibition of drugs and all forms of narcotic substances, including Kolanut.

The minister said any female pilgrim found to be pregnant would not only face instant deportation, but would forfeit her payment for Hajj, adding that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) would do everything possible to make this year's Hajj a huge success.

Addressing reporters in Kano, before the take-off of the first batch of pilgrims from the zone, Kazaure said unlike previous exercise, Hajj officials would be the last to depart the Kingdom after the exercise and applauded the massive turn out of intending pilgrims from Jigawa State.

The first batch was made up of 511 pilgrims from Jigawa State.An official of Meridian Airline, Alhaji Ibrahim Karaye, said the airline is one of the designated carriers of Jigawa pilgrims, adding that the Boeing 747 aircraft has since returned to airlift yet another 500 pilgrims.