The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has charged the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to, as a matter of urgency, put in place the necessary facilities at the various Hajj departure zones in the country to ensure a seamless airlift operation during next year’s Hajj.
In a statement signed by NAHCON’s Deputy Director, Information and Publication, Mousa Ubandawaki, the acting Chairman of the NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, gave this charge when members of FAAN’s Hajj Committee paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Photos from the Courtesy Visit to NAHCON Ag. Chairman/CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi OON, fwc by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Hajj Committee at Hajj House, Abuja today 28/11/2023. pic.twitter.com/h3IkE8SDZT
— National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (@nigeriahajjcom) November 28, 2023
The NAHCON Chairman said that the provision of necessary navigation equipment and facilities at Hajj departure centres across the country would facilitate a seamless Hajj airlift.
“You are a formidable partner in Hajj operation. Though, there are certain considerations put in place during Hajj airlift, we expect you to tell us the state of the various airports used for Hajj airlift,” said the NAHCON chairman.
According to him, the committee should be time-conscious, as they would have limited time to carry out their assignments, going by the timeline set by Saudi Arabia for all nations to conclude all Hajj arrangements early.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation, who is the Director of Airport Operations, Captain Mukhtar Yusuf Muye, said that the Authority commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj about two months ago so that they can achieve a hitch-free operation.
He assured that the exercise would be completed before the commencement of Hajj airlift from the 16 airports designated for departure across the country.
Captain Muye, however, urged the commission to persuade the tour operators’ companies to comply with the arrangements of airlifting their pilgrims through the international terminals, instead of the Hajj Terminal as that denies the Authority of valuable revenue that they could have generated to provide the neccessary infrastructural facilities at the airports.
He assured the commission of the Authority’s commitments to discharge its duties diligently so that the Nigerian pilgrims can enjoy a hitch-free airlift during the 2024 Hajj Operation.
