Lagos Commissioner Advises Intending 2021 Hajj Pilgrims On Covid-19 Vaccine

The Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, has advised Intending Pilgrims for the Y2021 Hajj exercise to endeavour to take the COVID-19 Vaccine whenever it arrives in the country.

Prince Elegushi gave the advice, on Tuesday, during a special meeting with the league of Ulamahs of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque, Old Secretariat, Ikeja.

The Commissioner urged the Intending Pilgrims, Ulamahs and other stakeholders in the Hajj operations to prevent being influenced against taking the vaccine whenever the Federal Government commences its dispensation in Nigeria, adding that only holders of the vaccine certificate would be allowed entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when the Hajj exercise begins.

On the airlifting and safety of Pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia, the Commissioner informed the gathering of the plans by the State Government towards ensuring that a reputable airline is engaged for airlifting of pilgrims within two to three days of operations, stressing that the old system when travellers stayed in the airport for weeks before being airlifted is gone for good.

While emphasising that any airline that defaults on the airlifting agreement would be penalised accordingly, he lamented the inability of the intending pilgrims to embark on Hajj in Y2020 due to the global pandemic but expressed his appreciation to all the affected persons for trusting the State government with their Hajj fares.

Elegushi, who stated that Hajj was like a pillar that holds the entire universe together, promised the stakeholders that a befitting accommodation would be provided for pilgrims both in Mecca and Madinah as well as Muna. He, however, solicited the Ulamahs’ support for the State government in its quest to give the pilgrims the best of Hajj experience and medical treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Alh. Ahmed Abdullahi Jebe, called for a harmonious and cordial relationship between the Ulamahs and schedule officers in their dealings with the intending pilgrims at the various Local Government Areas of the State.

He said their cooperation would further help in achieving much-needed success during the Hajj operations.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Rahman Ishola; Chairman, SAT Mosque, Ikeja, Mr. Murtala Bamgboshe and Chairman of Ulamahs, Alh. Muhsin Ajagbemokeferi were among the participants at the meeting.