Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has temporary suspended the airlift of its pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at the weekend.

This was revealed in a statement by the statement signed by the Press Secretary of the board, Jimoh Jumoke.

A total of 1,598 pilgrims from the state have so far been airlift, the statement said.

Cash transfer increased household savings, food security – World Bank

EFCC arraigns Zamfara court registrar for alleged fraud

The board said the suspension directive came after a report from Madinah indicated a surge in the number of pilgrims in the area, adding however, that the exercise would resume on Tuesday.

It also said the Saudi authorities were making efforts to transport the pilgrims from Medina to Mecca to accommodate more pilgrims in Medina.

Kwara Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board had on May 26, 2023 commenced the airlift of pilgrims with 262 intending pilgrims for the inaugural flight.

Between May 27th and 28, 2023, 272 pilgrims were airlifted to Saudi Arabia from the state, while another batch of 269 left the state to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between May 28 and 29, 2023,” the statement added.

However, intending pilgrims from Kwara State to this year’s Hajj have appealed to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the board to urgently address their plight.

Some of the pilgrims expressed dissatisfaction and lamented the poor arrangement in the airlifting of pilgrims.