The Lagos State Government will commence the airlifting of intending pilgrims for Hajj 2017 to Saudi Arabia on August 4 and 5 via Medview Airlines’ two planes, which are expected to convey 680 pilgrims and 775 pilgrims on the first and second outbound flights respectively.

The Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Muftau Okoya disclosed this recently while briefing newsmen in his office on the preparations of the Board for the Hajj exercise.

He said that the airlifting would continue back-to-back on August 8 and 9 when intending pilgrims from Osun and Lagos States would be airlifted together until all the intending pilgrims from Lagos State would have taken off to Saudi Arabia.

Okoya reiterated that all arrangements had been concluded for medical screening, good accommodation, ambulance services, air-conditioned buses, good catering services, inoculation, sensitisation, distribution of bags, a constitution of a well qualified medical team and well-trained committees and officials.

While noting that patronage had been very low this year as a result of the lack of Hajj sponsorship by the three tiers of government, lingering economic recession, high exchange rates other economic indices, he stated that government had been able to save millions of Naira from sponsorship for the development of basic infrastructural facilities.

The Executive Secretary advised intending pilgrims to desist from carrying any banned items in their bags and baggage, adding that pilgrims were expected to be ready for travel by making sure that all necessary arrangements were made before their expected departure dates.