Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has completed preparations to vaccinate approximately 1,600 prospective pilgrims from the state ahead of this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Board Secretary, AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, announced in a statement released through the Director of Public Affairs, Taofeek Lawal, that the vaccination drive aims to ensure compliance with international health standards and facilitate a smooth pilgrimage process.
Pilgrims will receive vaccines for meningitis, oral polio, yellow fever, and influenza as part of mandatory pre-departure health requirements.
Ajomagberin has called for the cooperation of officials from the Port Health Services Nigeria to ensure the seamless execution of the exercise.
The vaccination programme, scheduled to be carried out on a local government basis, will commence on Monday at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque Hall, First Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja.
According to the timetable released by the board, intending pilgrims from Agege and Somolu will begin the exercise, followed by those from Ajeromi, Apapa, and Ojo on April 21. Participants from Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, and Badagry are slated for April 22.
Pilgrims from Ikeja, Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin, and Surulere will be attended to on Thursday, while those from Ikorodu, Eti-Osa, Kosofe, and Epe are scheduled for April 27.
The exercise will continue on April 28 for pilgrims from Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, JAIZ, NIA, and Royal groups, before concluding on April 29 with the vaccination of government officials at the same venue.
Ajomagberin urged all intending pilgrims travelling through the state to strictly adhere to the schedule and present themselves for vaccination.
He stressed that compliance is mandatory, noting that both Saudi Arabian authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria require proof of vaccination as a condition for participation in the pilgrimage.
He warned that any pilgrim who fails to undergo the inoculation would be disqualified from the journey, emphasising that the exercise forms part of international travel health regulations.
