The number of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj rituals rose to 24, 324 following the safe arrival of 752 pilgrims from Sokoto and Zamfara states in Medinah, yesterday.
The latest arrivals, comprising 491 male and 261 female, came on Saudi Arabian airlines, Flynas FlightXY5624 and Flynas FlightXY5712 which departed Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto at 10:34hrs and 14:58hrs respectively straight to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International, Madinah.
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The transportation of pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for 2023 hajj began May 25 when the former president Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the immediate past minister of state for foreign affairs, Zubairu Dada flagged off the inaugural flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja with 472 pilgrims of Nasarawa State and 27 NAHCON’s officials on board.
According to the flights updates record from NAHCON’s command and control units, of the 24, 324 Nigerian pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, 4, 268 pilgrims have moved to Makkah while 20, 056 are still in Madinah praying at the Prophet’s Mosque and made visitations to many Islamic landmarks and historical sites.
A further review of the update flight at NAHCON’s command and control unit revealed that the number of Nigerian male pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia is 14, 491 while their female counterparts are 9,692.
The 24,324 Nigerian pilgrims were airlifted to the Holy Land in 58 flights operations while more are on the queue for onward journeys to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Kogi State Hajj Commission has directed the intending pilgrims of the state to immediately report to the FCT Hajj camp located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in preparation for their airlift to the Holy Land. This was contained in a statement signed by Zakari Ette Usman on behalf of the commission.
The commission warned all intending pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj exercise from the state against carrying illegal substances like; kola nut, hard drugs, sharp objects, ropes and liquid substances.