Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, announced various gifts including cash to the state’s contingents to this year’s hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The gifts include payments for Ihram (cloth worn for hajj duties), Hadiyah (sacrificial ram), Siyara (visitation to historic sites) and cash on Arafat day.
The governor’s announcement received a rousing applause from the pilgrims who converged on the Lagos Television (LTV) De-Blue Roof, Ikeja, for the annual a day seminar and send forth.
He said: “Let me congratulate all our intending pilgrims. You are among the few that Allah has chosen this year to answer His call to the Holy Land. Hajj is the fifth pillar of slam, and it is a journey of faith, humility, and total submission to Him. It is not a vacation. It is an act of worship that tests your patience, your endurance, and your brotherliness. I urge you to go with the sincere intention to seek Allah’s forgiveness and return as better Muslims and better citizens.
“As you stand on the plains of Arafah and make your supplications, I ask you to remember Lagos State and our dear country, Nigeria, in your prayers. Pray for peace in our communities, security across our land, and economic prosperity for our people. Pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and for all of us in leadership, that Allah continues to grant us the strength and wisdom to serve with justice and the fear of God.”
He also enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the state and hoist the flag of the centre of excellence higher.
On his part, Layode, who is the Amirul Hajj for the state, said the government is committed to the welfare, safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfilment of all the 1,600 pilgrims going to the Holy Land with Lagos state.
The commissioner warned them against all acts in violations of the laws of Saudi Arabia and those regulating the Hajj exercise.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters and Chairman ad-hoc committee for the 2026 Hajj exercise, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Kadiri Hamzat, for prioritising the welfare of the pilgrims.
He assured them that the pilgrims would reciprocate these gestures with their good conduct at the Holy Land.
He also presented the chairmen of sub-committees of the 2026 Hajj to the intending pilgrims, assuring them that the sub-committees would work hard for their comfort during the spiritual exercise.
Southwest Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Dr Tajudeen Oladejo, warned the pilgrims not to misplace their Nusuk cards.
Dr Oladejo said the commission has done all it could to ensure a memorable spiritual journey for all the pilgrims.
He enjoined them to be law abiding and obey instructions of their state coordinators.
Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo Branch, Alhaji Luqman Abdulrasaq AbdulMubarak, reminded the pilgrims to focus strictly on the essence of the spiritual exercise and not social affairs in the Holy land.
Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, urged the pilgrims to avoid self-medication, unnecessary exposure to sun due to the hot weather in Saudi Arabia.