Hajj 2023: Airlift of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to End June 24

Hammed Shittu in Saudi Arabia

 The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will end on June 24, 2023.

A statement issued yesterday and signed by the commission Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, also said  the commission had airlifted over 71, 000 and recorded 170 flights for 27 days the airlifting commenced.

The statement said: “The Aero Contractors Airline, Max Air, and Air Peace have all concluded conveyance of their allocated pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while Azman has one more flight to conclude.

“FlyNas is expected to close the window of this year’s outbound airlift of pilgrims from public quota due to technical hitches that restrained its movement on few occasions.

 “For this and other reasons, June 23 and 24 still remain open for Nigerian pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj.

“Hence, while FlyNas would conclude conveyance of pilgrims on government quota by June 23, Max Air, on rescue services, would conclude conveyance of Private Tour Operators’ passengers by June 24.

 “A special flight that would convey officials has been arranged to take off also on June 23.”

The commission, therefore, called on any eligible pilgrim with valid travel documents that has not been contacted for the journey to approach the nearest pilgrims’ welfare agency for confirmation and subsequent dispatch to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj exercise.

“The NAHCON stands truly grateful to its numerous stakeholders, from within and abroad, for their teamwork principles through which unforeseen challenges were jointly ebbed away,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Kunle Hassan, on behalf of the commission management, congratulated successful Nigerian pilgrims, and urged them to dedicate their time towards attaining the ultimate Hajj Mabrur, as he enjoined them to remain people of integrity and protect their honour while in the Holy land.