* As Senator Oloriegbe applauds Gov AbdulRazaq’s support
By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Following the arrival of the final batch of a contingent of 312 pilgrims from Kwara State, the 2024 Hajj operation has successfully concluded in the State.
The last batch, including the Amirul-Hajj, Senator Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, and other state officials, arrived safely on Tuesday, July 17th, 2024, at the Gen. Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, at 1 pm Nigerian time, deviating from the initial schedule of Thursday, July 19th, 2024.
During a brief conversation with the press at the airport’s arrival wing, Oloriegbe expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the successful completion of the entire exercise.
He also acknowledged the unwavering support from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which, he noted, contributed to the smoothness of the entire process. Additionally, he recognised the cooperation of the Mashood-Jimba-led Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the officials from NAHCON and other aviation agencies in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Oloriegbe advised the State Pilgrims to make the most of the spiritual enlightenment provided by the journey and to refrain from engaging in any activities that would compromise their Hajj or question the integrity of their newfound status.
Prof. Mashood Mahmud Jimba, Chairman of the State Pilgrims Board, expressed appreciation to the State Governor for selecting Oloriegbe as the Amirul-Hajj, lauding the former lawmaker’s outstanding leadership as a significant asset for the State Board in facilitating the pilgrims’ operations.
Jimba assured stakeholders that the Board would continue to capitalise on this momentum and apply the lessons learned in preparation for future operations.
It is worth noting that more than 3,000 pilgrims utilised Kwara State airspace for the pilgrimage this year.