The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has finalized arrangements for the vaccination of about 1,600 intending pilgrims from the state ahead of this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Board Secretary, Mr AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Taofeek Lawal, said the arrangement is to ensure effective participation of pilgrims and smooth coordination of the exercise in line with public health requirements.
Pilgrims will be administered meningitis, oral polio, yellow fever, and influenza vaccines during the exercise. Ajomagberin sought the cooperation and necessary support of the Port Health Services officials for the successful conduct of the exercise.
The inoculation, scheduled to hold on a local government basis, will begin on Monday at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas Mosque Hall, First Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the schedule released by the Board, intending pilgrims from Agege and Somolu local governments will kickstart the exercise, followed by Ajeromi, Apapa, and Ojo on April 21. Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, and Badagry will have theirs on April 22.
Those from Ikeja, Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin, and Surulere will be inoculated on Thursday, while their counterparts from Ikorodu, Eti-Osa, Kosofe, and Epe will be attended to on April 27. Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, JAIZ, NIA, and Royal intending pilgrims will be inoculated on April 28. The exercise will conclude on April 29 with the inoculation of government officials at the same venue.
Ajomagberin urged every intending pilgrim to comply and make themselves available for the inoculation as scheduled. He warned that any pilgrim who refuses to be inoculated will not be allowed to proceed with the spiritual journey, as the inoculation is a requirement by Saudi Arabia authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
