2023 Hajj: 31,533 Pilgrims Return, Over 40,000 Still In Saudi Arabia

Date: 2023-07-18

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has so far transported 31, 533 Nigerian pilgrims back home out of 75, 000 that performed 2023 hajj in Saudi Arabia through the commission and states pilgrims' welfare boards.

A total of 95, 000 Nigerians performed this year's Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 20, 000 of them travelling for the spiritual pilgrimage using private tour operators.

Eight flights conveying 3,172 pilgrims from Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Ondo, Borno, Kaduna and officials landed in Lagos, Abuja, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Ilorin and Maiduguri respectively yesterday.

According to the flight update from the Command and Control Centre of NAHCON, the flights bring the number of flights that have departed the Holy Land to Nigeria since the commencement of home-bound journey to 81 flights.

This means, no fewer 40, 000 Nigerians out of the 95, 000 that performed the 2023 Hajj rites are still in Saudi Arabia,18 days after the conclusion of the spiritual pilgrimage.

The slow pace of home-bound journey, according to NAHCON in a statement earlier released by its deputy director of information and publication, Alhaji Mousa Ubandanwak, was due to non-availability of slots to the Nigerian licenced carriers in the first week of the second phase of the airlift operation.

Nigerian licenced carriers started in-bound flight to Nigeria optimally July 12 after a high level meeting between NAHCON and the Saudi's General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) on the slow pace of the airlift operation.

The outcome of the meeting paved way for five Nigerian licenced airlines -Max Airline, Air Peace, Aero Contractor and Azman, as well as Arik Air which was dedicated to the airlift of private tour operators.

The commission has been disturbed about the situation which it had been battling with since the commencement of the second phase of the airlift operation.

“The GACA had refused to allot slots to the Nigerian airlines to speed up the return of pilgrims back home.

“Several representations and meetings were held. The intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ambassador Dauda Yahaya Lawal achieved little success until the issue was escalated to the highest level of government before the situation was finally resolved,” the commission said in a statement.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

AGF Abdulrazaq     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Wasiu Odewale     Abiodun Oyedepo     Ahmed Bayero     Kwara TV     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Erin-ile     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Taofik Abdulkareem     Oba Of Jebba     Aminat Ahmed     Binta Sulyman     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Tunde Saad     IsDB     John Olajide Adedipe     Jani Ibrahim     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Ballah     Funmilayo Zubair     KWIRS     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Ilorin International Airport     Kayode Bankole     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Salary     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Kwara 2023     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     2017 Budget     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Joseph Bamigboye     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Shonga     Share/Tsaragi     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Sherif Shagaya     Sa\'adu Salau     Diagnostic Centre     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Ileloke     Ashiru     Ahman Pategi University     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Abdulmutalib Shittu     08001000100     Ndama Al-hassan     Emir Of Ilorin     Oba Abdulrahim     Student Learning Support Helpline     Funmi Salau     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Shuaib Olarongbe     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Kola Adesina     Omu Aran     Turaki Of Ilorin     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Hassan Saliu     Aminu Ado Bayero     Adamu Attah     Oni Adebayo     Tunde Kazeem     Yinka Aluko     Kehinde Boyede     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Garment Factory     Galadima    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Lucky Omoluwa     EndSARS     Ahmad Uthman     SWAN     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Ohoro Of Shao     Nigeria Customs Service     Olaitan Adefila     Lola Ashiru     Abdulrosheed Okiki     V.O. Abioye     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Ibrahim Abiodun     Bursary     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Kayode Alabi     Mike Omotosho     Facemasks     Valsolar Consortium     National Broadcasting Commission     BECE     Jumoke F. Ajao     Akorede     LAK Jimoh     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Sabi     Oyedun Juliana Funke     NURTW     Nigerian Medical Association     Kwara State Government     Abraham Ojo     Sam Okaula     Ola Falade     Ajidagba     Kwara 2015     Hassan Oyeleke     Jaiz Bank     Sebastine Obasi     Convocation Ceremonies     Al-Adaby     Oya State     Funke Adedoyin     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     PPS     Ajasse-Ipo     Moshood Mustapha     Lawan     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Rachael Obisesan     Oba Abdulraheem     Maigidasanma     Ibrahim Mashood     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Towoju     Edret Sabi Abel     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Jide Ashonibare     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Amos Bajeh     Seed Technologies     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Ayedun     Aliyu Muyideen     TIC     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Sambo Murtala     Ayo Salami     Saliu Mustapha