The Kebbi State Government says the third flight from Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, arrived in Madinah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday morning.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, said, “The third plane which took off from Birnin Kebbi conveyed 430 intending pilgrims from Gwandu, Aliero, Bunza, and Kalgo Local Government Areas of Kebbi alongside Kebbi Government Officials (KGO).”
He further explained that the plane left Nigeria at about 4:00 pm Nigerian time and arrived at Medinah at about 12:30 am Saudi Arabian time.
According to the statement, Malam Hussaini Abubakar-Giro, one of the board members of the Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board, said all necessary arrangements had been done to receive the intended pilgrims in Madinah and take them to their respective hotels.
It said immediately upon arrival, buses were already parked waiting for the pilgrims.
It added that the pilgrims were grouped into 45 people right from Nigeria using their passports, saying that immediately they arrived, they identified each group member through his/her passport which made the work very easy for them.
“This is a new innovation that we have never seen before, as such, we have to appreciate our Chairman, Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu-Enabo for this gigantic effort,” Abubakar-Giro said.
He observed that Aliyu-Enabo had brought many different innovations in steering the affairs of the board, adding those innovations had culminated in a huge success.