2023 Hajj: 31,533 Pilgrims Return, Over 40,000 Still In Saudi Arabia
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.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
TETFUND Baboko Primary School Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Kudirat Arinola Lawal Razak Atunwa Dan Iya Lafiagi AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa Mohammed Abdulahi Yomi Ogunsola Abdullahi Samari Busari Toyin Isiaka Folorunsho Alao Alao Ayotunde Adebara Henry Olaosebikan Kolawole Akande Bamikole Omishore Tunji Moronfoye CT Ayeni BECE Elerinjare-Ibobo Rex Olawoye Offa Metropolitan Club Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir Olosi Of Osi Saliu Alamoyo Shettima Of Ilorin Kupchi Hosea Maxwell Umaru Saro Monthly Sanitation Niguel Gallando Marcias Ijagbo Health Centre Transition Implementation Committee Kayode Yusuf Fatima Abolore Jimoh Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Hausa Maryam Ado Bayero Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan KWASSIP Turaki Just Event Online Jimba Babatunde Taofeek Sanusi Gbemisola Saraki HYPPADEC Isau Sheikh Alimi JAAC Oko-Olowo Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade Michael Nzwekwe Bluenile Associates Okin Biscuits Alore Guber Aspirant Baaziki Sulaiman Unicontinental Construction Company Yusuf Abdulraheem Kwara United AGM Professional Services Ibrahim Oloriegbe Bank Of Industry Temi Kolawole Ishaq Salman Jalala Mohammed Ibrahim Kwara State Pension Board Sardauna Of Ilorin Harmony Holdings NYSC Old Oyo IHS Afonja Descendants Union Yusuf Zulu-Gambari Government House

