SANWO-OLU URGES INTENDING PILGRIMS TO ESCHEW NEGATIVE CONDUCT

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has cautioned the State 2019 contingent to the Holy lands of Makkah and Madina against involving themselves in negative tendencies capable of tarnishing the good image of the State while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He stated this in his keynote address during a one-day seminar organised by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB) for the intending pilgrims today, at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television (LTV) Agidingbi, Ikeja.

The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Sherifat Jaji at the seminar, implored the intending pilgrims to obey the rules and regulations guiding the Hajj operations, respect the State’s representatives and conduct themselves in an orderly manner.

Sanwo-Olu stated that he had no doubt that this year’s hajj would be better than that of year 2018, because Dr. AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem, the former State Commissioner for Home Affairs and recently appointed Amir-ul-Hajj who had achieved so much in the past will be leading the delegation from the state.

The Amir-ul-Hajj, Dr. Abdullateef AbdulHakeem discussing with the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abou-Nollah

While assuring the Board of the State Government’s continued assistance at ensuring the usual hitch-free pilgrimage exercise, he expressed his appreciation to the Islamic clerics and scholars for their efforts at imparting the knowledge, teachings and practices of Hajj exercise in the intending pilgrims.

 

The Governor also appealed to the intending pilgrims to remember to pray massively for the continued progress, development and peaceful co-existence of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general whilst in the Holy land, while wishing them journey mercy to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and prayed Allah accept their Hajj as act of Ibadah.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs, Adebunmi Adekanye, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, for providing the urgent necessary logistics support for the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in order to achieve a smooth operation of the exercise despite the short notice.

The Amir-ul-Hajj, Dr, Abdullateef AbdulHakeem receiving the ‘most Discipline Pilgrims 2018 Award’ from the South West Commissioner, National hajj Commission, Imam Fuad Adeyemi. With them are, PS Home Affairs, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye; PS Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola & Chairman, Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Dr. Tajudeen Afolabi.

She informed the intending pilgrims that as part of efforts at ensuring a successful Hajj operations, the State Government has constituted a medical team comprising of qualified medical practitioners to cater for their medical needs while the members of staff of the board have been trained to be courteous, patient, accommodating and treat all the intending pilgrims with utmost respect.

Highlights of the seminar includes a special prayer offered for the success of the 2019 operation by the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, His Eminence Sheikh Sulaiman Abou-Nollah as well as the formal presentation of the ‘Most Disciplined Pilgrims Award 2018’ to Dr. AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem on behalf of Lagos State by Imam Fuad Adeyemi, the South West Commissioner of the national Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).