The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has so far airlifted 4,315 intending pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia out of the 6,487 pilgrims from the state.
This leaves a total of 2,172 yet to be airlifted as of the time of filing this report.
The pilgrims comprised of 1,458 females, 2, 767 males and 96 officials were airlifted to Madina and Jeddah in 11 flights where they will begin their spiritual journey with visitations to various historic Islamic sites in the area.
A cross-section of pilgrims interviewed expressed optimism of a hitch-free exercise haven completed the visitations (ziyarat) and the lesser hajj (Umrah).
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Safiya Musa, an aged first-time pilgrim from Kauru Local Government Area of the state, expressed satisfaction with the treatment she had received thus far.
Another first-timer, Asiya Baba Saleh, from Igabi Local Government Area said she was happy to make it because she was one of those affected last year.
“I was so devastated when I could not go but Alhamdulillah, we are here this year and everything has been going smoothly through the aid of the officials of the agency,” she said.
Dr Muhammad Sani Musa, a pilgrim from Kaduna South, said anyone claiming that Kaduna State pilgrims were being marginalised in Makkah was making a false accusation.
