By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (FCT-MPWB) has said that with the end of spiritual activities of this year hajj, it will commence airlifting of pligrims on Saturday 21st June back to Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Director of the Board, Mallam Kadiri Edah during the meeting organised to assess the 2025 performance of its various committees and field operations in Saudi Arabia.
He gave a strong warning to committee saddle with the responsibility of the return exercise not to engage in collection of bribes to alter flight schedules of pligrims.
Edah expressed gratitude to the officials, particularly the Ulamas, Board staff, and the media for their commitment and contributions to the success of the exercise. He stated that the purpose of the meeting was to reflect on the progress of activities and identify areas needing improvement.
On the issue of feeding, the Director acknowledged the efforts of the committee involved but noted there was still room for improvement. He expressed dissatisfaction with the accommodation arrangement, citing lack of proper records regarding room allocation.Assuring that better planning would be put in place in future operations.
Providing an update on the Hadaya (sacrificial animal) arrangement, the Director said the vendor delivered as promised and that leftover funds were distributed to pilgrims, with each receiving 30 Saudi Riyals.
Also speaking, prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru-Khalid, commended the Board’s performance, describing the 2025 operation as one of the most successful ever, despite a few observed lapses.
Head of Operations, Hajiya Shade Olumo, reiterated the importance of teamwork, stressing that the success recorded so far was the result of collective effort. She urged staff to maintain the same spirit until the return phase is completed.
Chairman of the Board’s Staff Union, Malam Mahmoud Zubair, also praised the leadership for a smooth operation. He noted that the remaining task of airlifting pilgrims back home required extra patience, as many were now eager to return. He called for continued cooperation among staff to ensure a hitch-free conclusion to the Hajj exercise.
END.
