By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Pilgrims Board has warned returning pilgrims from the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia against carrying contraband and Overweight Luggage as the first batch of 425 pilgrims who successfully performed the 2025 Hajj arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Board has assured families and friends that efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe and successful return of remaining pilgrims, adding that logistics and coordination challenges are being addressed to prevent unnecessary delays.
According to officials, the second return flight is scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2025.
However, incidents at Jeddah Airport during the departure of the first group have prompted warnings from the Board. Some pilgrims were subjected to intense scrutiny during luggage checks, with authorities removing contraband items including bottles of water, soft drinks, metal objects, and baggage exceeding the 8kg weight limit.
Witnesses reported that some items were confiscated and scattered on the terminal floor, leading to scenes of discomfort and embarrassment for the affected pilgrims.
Reacting to the development, the Director of the Board, Malam Kadiri Edah, urged pilgrims still in the Holy Land to strictly comply with all baggage regulations to avoid similar incidents.
He also called for stepped-up education and sensitization efforts by the offshore team, noting that repeated violations could jeopardize the overall integrity of the return operations.
“We must intensify enlightenment. Obedience to the rules is not optional,” he said.
The Board’s Head of Education and Orientation, Muhammad Usman, reiterated the Director’s concerns and instructed clerics and mission officials to continuously remind pilgrims of the dos and don’ts of their return journey.
Meanwhile, some returning pilgrims, called for a review of the Hajj logistics to minimize prolonged stays in Makkah after the core Hajj rites have concluded.
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