NSCIA Delegation Arrive Saudi Arabia

Jameelah Sanda in Madina, Saudi Arabia

The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) delegation for 2016 Hajj have arrived Madina, Saudi Arabia, to ensure the implementation of plans for this year’s Pilgrimage.

The Chairman supervisory committee for NSCIA, Yahaya Abubakar (Etsu Nupe), in an interaction with journalists at King Abdulaziz International airport, Madina, said NSCIA will do what it can to ensure that the objectives of this year’s hajj are met.

Abubakar said the delegation was in the Kingdom to monitor and supervise the activities of all the stakeholder that are involved in hajj operations.

According to him, “We are here to let them know what they need to do. We will ensure that all that is required of the pilgrims are done to the later.

The NSCIA chairman therefore confirmed that part of the implementation of the planes for the 2016 hajj is that the air carrier have air lifted over sixty thousand Nigerian Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), had announced recently that the airlift of about 60,000 Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Reports from the various departure centres revealed that the pilgrims airlift is progressing steadily with records of little hitches.

Similarly, there were strong indication that the first batch of Zamfara pilgrims whose flight was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in Sokoto on the 8th of this month would leave Medina for Makkah after staying the prescribed eight day in the second holiest city.

With the steady progress made so far coupled with the number of aircraft made available for the operation by the airlines, the commission said the airlift may be completed before the closure of Saudi Arabia airspace.
Ilorin Zone which comprises of Kwara, Ondo and Ekiti states with a population of over 2000 pilgrims concluded its operation early yesterday morning with the airlift of remaining 454 pilgrims and officials made up of Ekiti 178 , Kwara 258 and Ondo 18.

The Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Barr Abdullahi Muhammad Mukhtar had promised during the flag off ceremony in Sokoto to ensure the completion of hajj airlift before the September 4 deadline set by the Saudi General Authority on Civil Aviation(GACA).