With just 12 days to the closure of Saudi Arabia airspace for the 2023 Hajj operations, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allayed the fear of Nigerian intending pilgrims, saying no one will be left behind in the country.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, gave the assurance in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the airlift operations so far.
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Hassan, who was represented by the commissioner in charge of planning, research, statistics, information and library services, Prince Suleiman Momoh, said so far, the commission has processed 73,310 visas out of the 75,000 slots allocated to the states for the 2023 Hajj exercise.
He added that of the 73,310 visas secured, 48, 597 pilgrims have been transported to the Holy Land, as at yesterday, for the spiritual hajj exercise since the commencement of airlift operations on Thursday, May 25, in spite of the challenges encountered.
“There are certain challenges here due to the mechanical devices that can break down anytime, but we are proactive to ensure that whatever situation occurs, we will prevent it and where any happens we will engage in prompt action to resolve it.
“We are looking into areas of bringing in more hands by way of rescue missions, a lot of people have indicated interest, and all of these are geared towards ensuring no single registered pilgrim is left behind at the end of the day,” Hassan said.
For the first time Nigeria filled all the slots given to the country by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the backlog of pilgrims that were not able to engage in the exercise for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NAHCON boss said they are determined to ensure that within the two weeks left for the commencement of the 2023 hajj rite, every registered Nigerian prospective pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has restored 95,000 Hajj slots to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for the 2023 Hajj, out of which 75, 000 were allocated to the States and Armed Forces while 20, 000 were distributed to independent private tour operators.
Meanwhile, of the 48, 597 Nigerian pilgrims already transported to Holy Land for this year’s Hajj, 35,178 pilgrims have moved to Makkah for the next phase of their pilgrimage while the rest are still in Madinah performing the first phase of the spiritual exercise.