The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has so far airlifted a total of 2,379 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The figure comprises 994 males and 1,385 females, according to a statement by the board on Tuesday.
The immediate past Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, who disclosed this during the airlift of the seventh batch of the state contingent on board a Flynas Airline XY 5722 from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday, said the exercise started on June 1 ahead of the earlier scheduled June 4.
He, however, noted that delay was being experienced in the issuance of visas by the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja.
He said, “If the visa issuance had been as fast as expected, the state would have by now moved all the intending pilgrims to the Kingdom.”
Elegushi said Saudi Arabian Embassy had been contacted to fast-track the processes with a view to ensuring that all the remaining intending pilgrims get their visas within the shortest period of time.
While commending the intending pilgrims for their patience, perseverance and understanding despite the challenges on visa issuance, Elegushi appealed to them not to get frustrated about the situation but to continue to bear with the state as it works hard to surmount the challenges.
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