LAGOS - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has warned the 3, 800 intending pilgrims to the Holy land of Mecca against acts capable of tarnishing the image of the state in particular and the country in general.

The warning came amidst concern by the state government over the possible delay in the return of the pilgrims at the end of the exercise as a result of the change in airline operator

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Speaking at a one-day seminar organized by the state government for the intending pilgrims in Lagos at the weekend, Fashola said that the warning became imperative so as to portray the country’s image in a positive light.

The governor, who was represented by the State Head of Service, Alhaji Yakub Balogun, disclosed that as part of measures to check the excesses of pilgrims who were likely to undermine government’s warning, a Hajj Tribunal had been instituted.

Fashola said that the Hajj Tribunal, headed by Justice Oyekan Abdullahi, would try defaulting pilgrims who travelled to the Holy land and subsequently anyone found wanting would be blacklisted from embarking on the exercise through the state in future.

Fashola urged the state pilgrims to be of good behaviour, adding that adequate provisions had been made to ensure the well being of the state’s pilgrim while in the Holy land .

“Do not misbehave while embarking on this exercise. Anyone found wanting would be prosecuted by the Hajj Tribunal. Such misbehaviours include trafficking of illicit drugs and engaging in other acts capable of tarnishing the country’s image.

“The state government would provide free food for all its pilgrims on the day of Arafat and give other supports as well” he added.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the state Ad-hoc Committee on Hajj 2008, Alhaji Mubashiru Adekunle, assured that government had made adequate arrangement to ensure the comfort and safety of all its pilgrims to this year’s Hajj operations.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Babatunde Balogun, has blamed the National Hajj Commission over the change in airline operator that would airlift the pilgrims to and from Mecca.

According to him, there was likely to be delay especially in the return of its pilgrim as a result of this change.

He pointed out that the state’s pilgrims has hitherto been airlifted by Kabo Airline, which had the capacity to accommodate 500 passengers, but the latest arrangement with Medview Airline would airlift lesser passengers.

He stressed that the poor logistic arrangement by the Hajj Commission was likely to affect other pilgrims.