The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has announced that the airlifting of the Nigerian pilgrims back home from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will commence on the 15 of July 2022.
NAHCON Chairman Alhaji Zikirullahi Hassan made this know in Makkah, Saudi Arabia at the 2022 Hajj Stakeholders Post -Arafat Meeting.
Hassan said the Commission would maintain the policy of first in first out in airlifting the pilgrims back home.
“We have already told the luggage management committee to collaborate with state officials so that this will not serve as an impediment toward the success of the return journey. For those who have not gone to Madina, the second phase of Madina operation will involve seven thousand seven hundred and thirty six pilgrims,” Hassan added.
Also, NAHCON Head of Aviation, Goni Sanda shed more light on the commencement of the airlifting of the Nigerian pilgrims back home from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“First of all the commencement of the return journey will begin on the 15 of this month and according to the calendar of GACA the last flight for the whole hajj should leave the country on the 13 of August, after that the hajj terminal will be closed. For the Nigerian journey we have three carriers, we have MAX AIR which airlifted fourteen thousand and thirty seven, FLY NAS airlifted ten thousand seven hundred and seventy two while AZMAN six thousand and fifty two. And they are expected to convey the pilgrims back to Nigerian in the same way before the deadline. Regarding the flight schedule we have printed the airlift of phase one and send to Saudi authority and we have instructed them to follow the same pattern to the end. I therefore urged the stakeholders not to tamper with arrangement of first in first out policy.”
Mr Sanda urged officials to be law abiding not to exceed the 32kg main luggage and 8kg hand luggage.
In his welcome address, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yahaya Lawal congratulated the pilgrims and NAHCON for a successful Hajj.
He said the commission needed to re-strategise for better performance in future operations.
“The Senate committee Chairman, NAHCON chairman, Stakeholders and myself went round the tent in Muna and interact with the pilgrims and we have written an important feedback which I believe the commission will take up with the appropriate authority both here and in Nigeria. We as the members of the mission will do our best to deal with other issues that are relevant to our mission here in the Kingdom. I hope we have learned a good lesson to make the hajj 2023 a better one,” Ambassador Lawal said.
Challenges
Speaking at the event, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa blamed challenges experienced in this year’s Hajj on late approval by the Saudi Arabian authorities in the unveiling of guidelines, delay in issuance of visas to Nigerian pilgrims, and many more.
He said, “My fellow citizens please bear with the federal government and bear with the commission the promise I can only make is that 2023 will be better insha Allah.”
In a remark, the Chairman, House Committee on Pilgrimage, Abubakar Nalaraba called on the Commission to endeavor to airlift the pilgrims back home in good time.
He assured NAHCON that his Committee would continue to work closely with the Commission for improved and successful Hajj operations.
Comparing the rate of mortality in this Hajj and the previous one, the Head of Medical Team, Dr. Usman Galadima said three Nigerian Pilgrims lost their lives .
At Hajj Post- Arafat meeting, stakeholders review the challenges encountered during the Hajj Exercise in order to plan for the next Hajj operation.
Confidence Okwuchi
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