374 Kwara Pilgrims Depart for 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia

On Wednesday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State flagged off the airlift of the first batch of 374 pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin. The pilgrims departed aboard Max Air aircraft at 3 PM en route to Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

A total of 1,714 pilgrims from Kwara State are expected to participate in this year's Hajj. Governor Abdulrazaq urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves properly, representing both the state and Nigeria honorably during the pilgrimage.

He emphasized the importance of complying with the laws and regulations of Saudi Arabia. Special adviser Saadu Salaudeen also encouraged the pilgrims to pray for peace and coexistence.

Abdullahi Aliyu, the Amirul Hajj for the year, pledged to ensure the welfare of the pilgrims, while Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Pilgrim Welfare Board, commended the governor for approving measures to ensure adequate care for the pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.