Hajj airlift ends tomorrow, says NAHCON

THE movement of pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj will be rounded off tomorrow after almost a month of flights into Jeddah and Madinah airports, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced.

The commission, in a statement by Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, said today and tomorrow remained open for landing of Nigerian pilgrims into Saudi Arabia.

It then called on all eligible pilgrims with valid travel documents who have not been contacted for the journey to approach the nearest pilgrims’ welfare agency for confirmation and subsequent dispatch to the Kingdom for the 2023 Hajj.

NAHCON commended stakeholders in Nigeria and abroad for their team cooperation through which it said unforeseen challenges were avoided.

According to the statement, the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, on behalf of the management, congratulated “successful Nigerian pilgrims and urges them to dedicate their time towards attaining the ultimate Hajj Mabrur.”

The NAHCON chairman implored the pilgrims to remain people of integrity and protect their honour while in the holy land.

Hassan, however, said he empathised with all bona fide intending pilgrims who were unable to participate in this year’s Hajj for any reason and reminded them that “Hajj is an answer to divine call that whoever is destined will answer at the due time.”

He, therefore, appealed to those affected to “take the failure to participate as destiny, and to take solace in the fact that the commission would address their situations accordingly.”