Last Batch Of Oyo Pilgrims Arrive Jeddah

The last batch of Sixty-three pilgrims from Oyo State arrived Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning via a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
The pilgrims, who arrived at about 8a.m, spent close to six hours before clearing their hand luggage at the airport.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the pilgrims joined other Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for this year’s Hajj, taking the total of pilgrims from the State so far airlifted by Oyo State to 655 in four flights.
Hon Wasiu Olatunbosun added that government functionaries on the flight include the Executive Secretary , Oyo state Primary Health board , Dr Muhideen Olatunji, board members of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing, Alh Abdulmajeed Akinwumi and Alh Abdrahman Abubakri.









I’m glad that these people are finding spiritual fulfilment and I understand how important the pilgrimage is to the religious.
But we have to reconsider if these excursions should continue to be funded with public money with the state of the local and global economy. Perhaps we should prioritize improving general welfare over these visits.
The pilgrimages ought to be privately funded by those seeking to go. It is unfair that some ordinary Nigerians are contributing towards these pilgrimages while their children are unable to attend schools. These funds could have done something tangible for their well-being.