The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has so far airlifted 16,605 Nigerian pilgrims in 34 flights to Saudi Arabia for the forthcoming 2019 hajj exercise.
Statistics released by the Command and Control Centre of the commission today, further revealed that pilgrims from FCT, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Gombe, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Lagos States had been airlifted to the holy land.
Meanwhile, more Nigerian pilgrims, especially from Lagos, yesterday left Madinah for Makkah to observe ‘Umrah before the obligatory Hajj.
The Chief Imam of Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Dr Alhassan Yaqub, has advised Nigerian pilgrims to honour Madinah, the city of Holy Prophet Muhammad, SAW, by relating with one another with decorum.
Mr Yaqub, who is one of National Ulama Team to 2019 Hajj, gave the advice yesterday during a brief orientation session with pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He urged the pilgrims to help one another and visit the historic sites such as Masjid Nabawiyy (Prophet’s Mosque), Masjid Quba, and Mount Uhud among others.
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According to him, one rakat of prayers (Salat) observed in Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is equivalent to 1000 rakaat of prayers in any other mosque apart Masjid (Mosque) Haram in Makkah.
“This city of Madinah is one of the holiest cities in the world apart from Makkah. When you arrive in Madinah, you are honoured. One prayer in Masjid Nabawiyy is equivalent to 1000 prayers anywhere else in the world except Masjid Haram in Makkah,” he said.
Mr Yaqub therefore, implored the pilgrims to pray for themselves, their families, the country, and the leaders.
Head of Civic Orientation for NAHCON, Umar Bala, advised the pilgrims again to deal with their officials on issues concerning money exchange and gold tooth fixing to avoid falling victims of dubious people.
Mr Bala said the commission had put in place everything that would make them enjoy their stay in Madinah.
