FG to Conclude Outward Airlift of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia June 10

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The outbound airlifting of Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia due to begin tomorrow will last till June 10 or much earlier, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said yesterday in a statement.

The spokesman of NAHCON, Fatima Usara, said 428 passengers from Kebbi State were expected to be on the maiden outbound flight on FlyNas airline from the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi.

The statement said Vice President, Kashim Shettima would be the Special Guest Honour at the flag-off that would be witnessed by diplomats and members of the Hajj industry.

Usara added that two other flights with pilgrims from Nasarawa and FCT were scheduled to take-off on same day of the inaugural flight from Abuja.

According to NAHCON, 15 airports had been designated for the 2024 Hajj exercise while about 65,047 pilgrims from both public and private sectors are expected to participate in the 2024 Hajj.

It added that an advance team of officials comprising medical personnel from the national medical team, media staff, accommodation officials, few feeding committee members, select members of the central security committee members as well as the national reception team departed Nigeria on Sunday to receive the pilgrims.

Usara stated that pilgrims will travel in groups of 45 according to Saudi Arabia’s guidelines, adding missing out from the group could come with consequences as stated by the host country.

She said that 140 shortlisted medical personnel out of 4,861 successful candidates that scaled the second round of screening would fill the official medical quota allocated to the country by Saudi Arabia.