We airlifted all pilgrims on schedule – NAHCON Boss

By Nafiu Busari

The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Barrister Zikrullah Hassan has arrived in Saudi Arabia after spearheading a smooth airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land for this year’s Hajj.

The chairman arrived at Jeddah International Airport on Friday, alongside his management team and other officials of the commission.

He arrived at 23:20hrs Saudi time with 156 pilgrims and 139 officials.

Speaking at the final batch of the airlift ceremony of Niger State pilgrims at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on Friday, the NAHCON boss said it is an historic feat for the commission to airlift all its pilgrims on schedule.

The chairman further expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for making the entire exercise a success despite some of the challenges encountered especially against the background of the last year’s issues and due to the emergency nature of the operation.

“There are many things for us to be grateful, this year’s operation is about the first time in ten years when we are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the total number of over 95,000, it has taken a while for Nigerian pilgrims to get to this number.”

“And the beauty of it is that despite the number we are able to airlift all the States’ pilgrims and I must say that even those of the tour operators who are challenged, by 2am today in sha Allah after midnight today the last of the tour operators pilgrims chartered airplane will leave Lagos, we are safe to conclude that every operation managed and micromanaged by NAHCON as far as airlift is concerned are going to be in the kingdom and partake in the Arafat,” he said.

Mr Hassan also added that a flight that will depart 2pm on Saturday is strictly for NAHCON officials.

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