Hajj: NAHCON directs pilgrims boards to hasten screening of intending pilgrims 

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has urged State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to quicken the screening and conveyance of their intending pilgrims to the various designated airports across the country for onward airlift to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A Statement by the Spokesperson of the Commission, Fatima Sanda Usara, urged   intending pilgrims to avoid unnecessary delays so as to  meet up with their  take-off schedule  to the holy land.

“The country’s air carriers have deployed additional aircraft to speed up airlifting  of intending pilgrims ,  FlyNas has deployed two aircraft with a 433-seat capacity, Azman air has also deployed aircraft with a 400-seat capacity while Max Air, with a 560-passenger capacity is about to deploy its second aircraft for the Hajj dispatch”.

Many Hajj participating countries according to the statement are still grappling to adjust to some new  policies by Saudi Arabia, due to the COVID -19.measures , which has affected the smooth  airlift of intending pilgrims globally.

“Statistics show that  only about 12 percent (100,000) of the expected  850,000 foreign Pilgrims have so far arrived The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 15 days of the commencement of the Hajj airlift world-wide,as against a total of 557,282   within 13 days in 2019″.

“This is an exercise that started on 31st May, 2022. Hence, 15 days after opening of the Jeddah and Madinah airports, plus the Jeddah seaport, only about 12 percent of the expected 850,000 foreign pilgrims had arrived. This illustrates a global slow pace compared to other years”.

The NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has however assured Hajj stakeholders of NAHCON’s commitment towards delivering proper services to pilgrims during the entire Hajj Operations.

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