No fewer than 1,277 intending pilgrims from Oyo State are expected to perform this year's hajj exercise in Mecca, Saudi Arabia which commences September 14. This was as the state Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) on Monday in Ibadan commenced distribution of Hajj materials and orientation for all its intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj.

Board's Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Kunle Sanni told newsmen that the board was ready in all its arrangements for a hitch-free Hajj for all its 1,277 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Sanni said the distribution and orientation seminar would last for one week as the pilgrims were grouped based on the 33 local governments in the state.

He said in line with the directives of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), female pilgrims went through medical tests to ensure that they are not pregnant while the  men were tested for their physical ability and mental alertness.

He said that the distribution of the materials would be in two batches for the uniform cloth and bags while the wife of the state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi would also give free ihram dress and hijab to all the state pilgrims.

Other items slated for collection include water bottle, knapsack bag, literature on hajj rites and Identity cards. Already, Sanni said all the traveling passports of the pilgrims have been forwarded to Abuja for visa processing ahead of the September 14 inaugural flight.

He said various health and Islamic talks are on-going for the pilgrims by Islamic scholars and officials of Ministry of Health to ensure that there was a hitch-free and acceptable hajj rite. Sanni said for the first time in the history of hajj in the state, pilgrims who would hitherto go to Lagos by road to catch their flight to Saudi Arabia would now fly from Ibadan airport to Lagos to ease the difficulty by the pilgrims.

He said Medview Air has been assigned to transport all the pilgrims from Oyo state with adequate arrangements made to cushion all logistics problems.

The Secretary said over 700 males and 500 females including the officials would perform this year’s Hajj from the state.

Some of the successful pilgrims were seen collecting their bags and clothes, others still checking for their names, while some were receiving seminars on hajj rites.