Not fewer than three thousand, five hundred intending pilgrims from Katsina State have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the 2011 hajj, according to the executive secretary, Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Aminu Danbaba.
Danbaba told newsmen that seven batches of the pilgrims had been airlifted and expressed the confidence that the airlift would be completed on schedule.
He urged intending pilgrims to ensure they were present to promptly board the plane “once it is their turn because if pilgrims are not available when they are needed, the airlift plans will be affected and that won’t tell well for us all.”
Although Danbaba declined to comment on the scheduled date of completing the airlift, a source at the Board headquarters said the airlift of the 6,000 intending pilgrims would concluded October 15.