The first batch of 541 pilgrims and one official from Kwara State have returned home after performing the 2022 hajj exercise.

Daily Trust reports that the pilgrims, who cut across the 16 local government areas of the state, arrived at the Ilorin International Airport at 7:59am on board a Max Airline flight with registration number 5N-ADM on Thursday.

Some of the pilgrims, who spoke with Daily Trust, thanked Almighty Allah for the success, but urged authorities to ensure the lapses in this year’s exercise did not recur.

According to one of the pilgrims, Alhaji Tunde Kanike, who thanked Allah and the state government for the ‘successful exercise’, welfare of the pilgrims needed to be properly looked into in the subsequent exercises.

He said, “The State Muslims Pilgrims Board needs to improve more on welfare of the pilgrims especially in the area of local foods.

“Many of us did not enjoy the foods provided during our stay in the Holy land.”

Alhaja Kuburat Abimbola-Lawal, while thanking the state and officials for their efforts, stressed the need fix the lapses witnessed during this year’s exercise.

On his part, a pilgrim who preferred to be anonymous, said the authorities must prioritise the importance of the exercise and approach it with all seriousness.

“Where the issue started was that many officials who went with us are ‘first timers’ and they were overwhelmed with the situation. There was also no proper coordination between the state and NAHCON officials and that compounded things for us,” he noted.

The Public Relations Officer of the board, Mrs Jumoke Jimoh, who also witnessed the exercise, told Daily Trust that the second batch is expected back in the state anytime next week.

A video had gone viral in the state where the pilgrims protested over accommodation arrangements in Saudi Arabia during the exercise.