Ogun State Government has assured intending pilgrims from the State that they will not have the bitter experience of last year during which some pilgrims were repatriated as measures have been perfected to ensure that all female pilgrims are accompanied by a male relative. Chairman of the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Dr. Isiaq Yusuf made this disclosure in Abeokuta at the commencement of a five-day screening exercise for intending pilgrims.
Dr. Yusuf who spoke through another member of the board, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun noted that the need to forestall a re-occurrence informed the decision to conduct the exercise, adding that a total of 1550 slots out of the over 2000 slots requested for by the State had given by the National Hajj Commission, Abuja. He said during the exercise, intending pilgrims would be screened by a 14-man committee made up of clerics, Immigration and State Security Service officials to ascertain their eligibility and claims of being genuine and practicing muslims, saying that non Muslim were not eligible to perform the holy pilgrimage.
“All intending pilgrims must be versatile religiously as they must be able to recite some verses from the Holy Quran and perform five times daily prayers. The era of allowing non Muslims on the entourage of the State Government is over. The issue of women without a guardian has been spelt out by Saudi Arabian immigration officials and we have taken serious measures to abide by those rules by ensuring all women who are to perform the 2013 Hajj exercise are with a relative or guardian”, he stated.
He maintained that the State Government would not relent in its efforts towards providing adequate welfare for pilgrims’ from the State, pledging to retain the enviable position it occupied during previous Hajj exercises. In his reaction, an intending pilgrim, Mr. Abdul Fatai Adesina expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the screening exercise, stressing that it had broadened their horizon and would ensure that only genuine pilgrims were given the opportunity to embark on pilgrimage to the holy land.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release