By Peter Omopo
The Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board on Monday confirmed the successful airlift of the first batch of 316 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Dhikirulahi Chandy-Adam, disclosed the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noting that the pilgrims were scheduled to depart at 1 p.m. on Monday.
He stated that all the pilgrims had undergone the necessary health protocols, including vaccinations for yellow fever and meningitis, ahead of their journey to the holy land.
According to Chandy-Adam, Ondo State has a total of 735 intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with the remaining batches set to depart in the coming days.
Preparations for the departure of the next set of pilgrims, he added, commenced on Monday morning as officials coordinated logistics and final checks at the departure point.
