THREE weeks after former President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the 2023 Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has so far airlifted 50,441 pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Since the flag-off on Thursday, May 25, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAHCON and other stakeholders have intensified the airlift of intending pilgrims across the country to the holy land.
Since the commencement of the flights with a Max Air plane conveying about 400 Nasarawa pilgrims, 119 other flights have taken off from Abuja, Ilorin, Bauchi, Kano, Dutse, Sokoto, Lagos, Gombe, Maiduguri and other cities.
Aside from Max Air, other airlines engaged to convey pilgrims to the holy land include Flynas, Air Peace, Aero Contractors and Azman.
An online newspaper, PRNigeria, reported that with a Flynas aircraft marked XY5638 which departed Sokoto for Madinah at 8.47 a.m. on Thursday with 382 Kebbi pilgrims (252 males, 130 females) and four officials, a total of 120 flights have been completed, with 50,441 Nigerian pilgrims successfully airlifted to Saudi Arabia so far.
About 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj.
The chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, had told newsmen after the inaugural flight three weeks ago that all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted within 25 days from 15 take-off points across the country.
The 25-day target is meant to meet the deadline set for the closure of the Saudi Arabia airspace.
The King Fahd International Airport, Jeddah, and the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, are expected to be shut on Thursday, June 22.
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