Chairman of Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik, Sunday, said about 300 intending pilgrims from the state were still awaiting airlift to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Professor Malik while disclosing this during a chat with newsmen at his Olodo Hajj camp office, declared that the stranded intending pilgrims were at the State Hajj camp at Olodo.
The Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman appealed to intending pilgrims waiting to be airlifted to the holy land to be patient, as “arrangements are being made to ensure that they are transported to Saudi Arabia very soon.
“We have about 300 intending pilgrims at Olodo Hajj Camp but they are too small for the aircraft which has the capacity to carry more than 500 people. So, the pilots are seeking for more passengers to board the aircraft.
“As soon as they have enough passengers, most especially intending pilgrims from another state, our intending pilgrims will be airlifted to the holy lands.
” We have secured an airliner that we want to use to transport our intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. But the number of intending pilgrims that are on ground are not enough for the plane to take off,” he explained.
The Chairman Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) then assured that efforts are being intensified to secure visas for the intending pilgrims who are yet to get them.
