The Lagos State Government has welcomed the safe return of one of its pilgrims who was hospitalised during the 2023 holy pilgrimage exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrim, Alhaja Kuburat Motolani Olorunfunmi from Ojo Local Government Area of the State, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, aboard an Air Peace flight, on Monday evening.
Expressing his joy on behalf of the State Government, the Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede said, “We are extremely happy and our joy knows no bounds over the safe return of the pilgrim after her hospitalisation for medical attention since July”.
Onipede who led some staff of the Board to the Airport, expressed his gratitude to Almighty Allah for preserving the life of the pilgrim and returning her safely home to her family. He emphasised that since her hospitalisation, the State Government had been monitoring her response to treatment in the hospital and has been in constant touch with her family with courage and hope for her safe return.
While rejoicing with the family, he appreciated them for their patience and endurance during the trying period, stressing that their perseverance and high hopes in Allah for her safe return have greatly contributed to their mother’s recovery and eventual discharge from the hospital. He enjoined them to encourage her to take her drugs as prescribed to recover fully.
Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to providing a conducive and enabling environment towards achieving a spiritually fulfilling and rewarding Hajj experience, Onipede urged intending pilgrims to continue to patronise the State Muslim Pilgrims Board for the Y2024 Hajj exercise, saying they would not regret doing so.
Also at the Airport was NAHCON’s Ag. Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Mustapha Wasi’u and others from the Lagos Office of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Recall that apart from the one death recorded by the State, the Y2023 Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Elegushi announced that one of the 3,662 pilgrims, Alhaja Olohunfunmi fell ill during the exercise and had since been admitted into a hospital in Makkah for comprehensive treatment of her ailment. With her safe return, there are no more pilgrims left in the Kingdom from the exercise.
