Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it is targeting 2,200 intending pilgrims to perform the 2018 Hajj from the state in Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday at a special prayer to usher in preparation for 2018 Hajj.
The programme, attended by hundreds of 2018 intending pilgrims, also featured enlightenment and sensitisation of the intending pilgrims.
The executive secretary also disclosed that over 100,000 intending pilgrims had so far registered with the board to take part in the exercise.
He said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had extended registration for the exercise till the end of April, to enable the board accommodate more intending pilgrims.
Mr Tunde-Jimoh also disclosed that the board had concluded arrangement on the accommodation of intending pilgrims, both in Mecca and Medina.
He explained that the law banning pregnant women from performing hajj remained in force and warned pregnant women not to register for the hajj.
The executive secretary said the board was still expecting directive from National Hajj Commission, on biometric registration for all intending pilgrims.
He added that 2018 Hajj fee would soon be announced by the board in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission.
The executive secretary said the pronouncement of the fee from the commission would determine the balance to be paid by intending pilgrims who had paid part of their hajj fees.
He urged all intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria at large while in the Holy land by avoiding any act capable of denting the image of the country.
Mr Tunde-Jimoh stressed that serious penalty awaits any pilgrim that violated the laws of Saudi Arabia during the exercise.
“Intending pilgrims from the state must shun all negative tendencies that can drag the name of the state and country into the mud,” the executive secretary said.
The special prayer for the successful conduct of 2018 Hajj, led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Mohammed Bashir, featured recitation of several portions from the Holy Quran.
NAN
