Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, has stated that his administration will continue to support the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrimage Board in its efforts to ensure smooth Hajj operations in the state.
While receiving the 2022 Hajj reports from the chairman of the Muslim Pilgrimage Board, Prof. Sayed Malik, at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the governor admonished the board to double its efforts in order to maintain the standard.
The governor urged the board to keep the pilgrims engaged, stating that regular and early preparations are critical for a trouble-free pilgrimage.
As a result, he promised to finish the projects abandoned by the previous administration at the Hajj Camp in Olodo, Ibadan, saying, “We want to thank the Board. We understand the difficulties you faced before, during, and after the pilgrimage.
“Some of them, as you mentioned, are not unique to Oyo State. But I’ll say this: we don’t make excuses, and we don’t argue that because something is happening in another state, it should happen here. No. We are proactive and strive to complete our tasks.
“As a result, I will advise the board members to double their efforts to ensure that the standard is maintained and that we begin as soon as possible. Take, for example, the Basic Travel Allowance, which we should have handled much better if those who are supposed to be on top of the situation were actually present.
“I noticed on social media that some of the pilgrims were criticizing Oyo State, claiming that they were the only ones suffering in Saudi Arabia. I believe they must have learned something as well.
“As a government, we cannot be blackmailed because we face our responsibilities and take them seriously. It’s not like we’re sloppy. But what can we do if we have a currency problem in the country? We must implement alternative plans, which may not provide immediate relief to the people.
“However, the fact that they are not left alone, and that the officials tasked with dealing with such issues have that engagement with them. We also learned a few things from that episode. “Participation is essential.”
Earlier, Prof. Malik, the state chairman of the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), recounted various challenges encountered prior to, during, and after the 2022 Hajj operation, and thanked Governor Makinde for his moral and financial support to the board.
