Oyo Pilgrims Undergo Familiarisation Tour (Ziyarah) Of Holy Sites In Makkah Ahead Of Arafat Exercise

 

Oyo Pilgrims Undergo Familiarisation Tour (Ziyarah) Of Holy Sites In Makkah Ahead Of Arafat Exercise

Pilgrims from the Oyo State, on Monday, May 18, 2026  visited notable historical and religious sites in Makkah as part of preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise scheduled to commence fully with the Arafat rites on May 26. 

The familiarisation tour was organised to give the intending pilgrims firsthand knowledge of the sacred locations and help them prepare mentally and physically for the rigorous spiritual exercise ahead.

The pilgrims visited important sites including the Mount Arafat area, Jabal al-Nour, Mina, Muzdalifah and other notable places. The tour enabled the pilgrims to acquaint themselves with the terrain, historical significance and spiritual relevance of the holy sites before the commencement of the core Hajj rites

The visit was approved by the Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mogaji Haseem Atere, as part of measures aimed at ensuring a hitch-free pilgrimage for all contingents from the state. The chairman stressed the importance of adequate orientation and practical exposure for the pilgrims, noting that the exercise would assist them in understanding movement procedures and safety guidelines during the Hajj period.

Leading the pilgrims during the educational tour, the Head of Da’wah of the Board, Dr. Ibrahim Ballo Adelani, provided detailed explanations on the religious importance of each location visited. He urged the pilgrims to remain focused on the spiritual objectives of the pilgrimage and to conduct themselves in accordance with the teachings of Islam throughout their stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Some of the pilgrims such as Alhaji Faees Abimbola, 

Alhaji Badmus Isola Akeem and Imam Tajudeen Abdulazzez Obelawo  expressed appreciation to the board for organising the excursion, describing it as timely and enlightening. 

"We appreciate the Board for organizing this familiarization visit for us. This had boosted our confidence and preparedness ahead of the Arafat day, regarded as the peak of the Hajj exercise. It had also given us a clearer understanding of what is expected of us to successfully perform these rites in the coming days and how we should remain healthy to be able to withstand the rigour," they concluded.