The Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Thursday said that it screened over 2,000 intending pilgrims for the 2016 Hajj exercise.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Hajia Fatima Abolore- Jimoh, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin. She said that the intending pilgrims were among those who registered online with the board for the holy pilgrimage.

Abolore-Jimoh, however, did not specify the quota allocated by the National Hajj Commission to the state for this year's Hajj. She said that the intending pilgrims from the 16 local government areas in Kwara and other states took part in the screening exercise.

Abolore-Jimoh added that the specific amount to be paid by intending pilgrims as Hajj fare was yet to be fixed by the National Hajj Commission.

Abolore-Jimoh warned intending pilgrims against paying their Hajj fares to unauthorised persons or banks.

She said the board would soon release the names of successful candidates who participated in the screening exercise.

The executive secretary urged intending pilgrims above 65 years old to travel along with younger pilgrims who could assist them.