The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has said the outbound movement of pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia would be winding up on Saturday, June 24.
Fatima Sanda Usara, the Commission’s Asst. Director, Public Affairs, made this revelation in a statement released on Thursday, June 22.
She said NAHCON has in the last 27 days succeeded in airlifting over 71,000 thousand Nigerian pilgrims aboard 170 flights, noting that the remaining pilgrims will be airlifted before the closure of airlifting operations.
“Before today, Aero Contractors Airline, Max Air, Air Peace, have all concluded conveyance of their allocated pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while Azman has one more flight to conclude. FlyNas is expected to close the window of this year’s outbound airlift of pilgrims from public quota, due to technical hitches that pinioned its movement on few occasions.
“For this and other reasons, 23rd and 24th of June still remain open for landing of Nigerian pilgrims into Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj.
“Hence, while FlyNas would conclude conveyance of pilgrims on government quota by 23rd. Max Air, on rescue services, would conclude conveyance of private tour operators passengers by the 24th of June. A special flight that would convey officials has been arranged to take off also on the 23rd, Friday.
The Commission therefore called on any eligible pilgrims with valid travel documents that have not been contacted for the journey to approach the nearest pilgrims’ welfare agency for confirmation and subsequent dispatch to the Kingdom for the 2023 Hajj exercise.
“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, stands truly grateful to its numerous stakeholders, from within and abroad, for their teamwork principles through which unforeseen challenges were jointly ebbed away.
“Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, the NAHCON Chairman, on behalf of the Commission’s management, congratulates successful Nigerian pilgrims and urges them to dedicate their time towards attaining the ultimate Hajj Mabrur. The Chairman enjoined them to remain people of integrity and protect their honour while in the holy land.
“On the other hand, Alhaji Kunle Hassan expresses deep pain and empathises with all bonafide intending pilgrims who were unable to participate in this year’s hajj for any reason. He is quick to remind them that hajj is an answer to a divine call that whoever is destined will answer at the due time.
“He therefore appeals to those affected to take the failure to participate as destiny and to take solace in the fact that the Commission would address their situations accordingly”, she noted in a statement.
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