National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has declared that outbound movement of intending pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia would be rounded up on Saturday, June 24, three days to the Arafat.
The commission has so far transported over 71, 000 pilgrims of states, excluding pilgrims of private tour operators, to the Holy Land in 170 flights since the commencement of airlift operations on Thursday, May 25, when former President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the inaugural flight at the Pilgrims Terminal of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
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According to a press statement issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, assistant director of public affairs of the commission, out of the five approved airlines for transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 2023 Hajj, three of them – Aero Contractors Airline, Max Air, Air Peace, have all concluded conveyance of their allocated pilgrims to the Holy Land 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, within the next two days of the operations.
Sanda added that 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 June 24, just as special flight that would convey officials has been arranged to take off also on Friday, June 23.
The commission while urging eligible pilgrim with valid travel documents yet to be airlifted to the Holy Land to contact the nearest pilgrims welfare agency for confirmation and subsequent dispatch to the Kingdom for the 2023 Hajj exercise, commended all stakeholders from within and abroad for their teamwork principles through which unforeseen challenges were jointly ebbed away.
“At this juncture, the Commission calls on any eligible pilgrim with valid travel documents that has 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.