The Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Halal Ahmad Arabi, has called on the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to, as a matter of urgency, put in place necessary facilities at the country’s Hajj departure centres to ensure a seamless airlift operation for next year’s Hajj.
Malam Arabi gave this charge when members of FAAN’s Hajj Committee paid him a courtesy visit at the Hajj House in Abuja on Tuesday.
Describing FAAN as a formidable partner in Hajj operation, the chairman said provision of necessary navigation equipment and facilities at Hajj departure centres across the country would facilitate a seamless airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to the NAHCON boss, “You are a formidable partner in Hajj operation. Though there are certain considerations put in place during Hajj airlift, we expect you to tell us the state of the various airports used for Hajj airlift.”
He challenged the FAAN committee to be time-conscious as it would have limited time to carry out its assignments in view of the timeline set by Saudi Arabia for all nations to conclude all Hajj arrangements early.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, who is also the Director, Airport Operations, Captain Mukhtar Yusuf Muye, informed that FAAN had commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj about two months ago for it to achieve a hitch-free operation.
He assured that the exercise would be completed before the commencement of Hajj airlift in all the 16 departure airports across Nigeria.
Muye, however, urged NAHCON to persuade tour operator companies to comply with the arrangements of airlifting their pilgrims through the international terminals instead of the Hajj terminal.
He said that going through Hajj terminals would deny FAAN of valuable revenue that it is supposed to generate to provide the necessary infrastructural facilities at the airports.
He then assured the NAHCON of FAAN’s commitment to discharging its duties diligently with a view to ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims enjoy a hitch-free airlift during the 2024 Hajj operation.
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