As organised labour protests across Nigeria over the minimum wage for Nigerian workers, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured that the strike will not affect the airlift of intending pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
The commission’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, gave this assurance in an interview with Tribune Online. She stated that NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, has been in contact with all relevant authorities to ensure that there are no disruptions in the flight schedules.
As of Monday evening, there have been no flight disruptions, with all flights involved in airlifting pilgrims to Saudi Arabia departing Nigeria as scheduled. Usara added that there have been no reports of flight disruptions brought to NAHCON’s notice.
“There have been no flight disruptions so far. All flights are departing as scheduled. Our chairman has been in touch with the relevant authorities, and with the arrangements we have, the strike will not affect our Hajj flights, in sha Allah,” she said.
When asked about the fate of intending pilgrims yet to be brought to Saudi Arabia if the strike disrupts the airlift operation, Usara assured that the Hajj commission would take whatever measures it deems fit to airlift them.
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“In sha Allah, they will not be affected. Even if it means moving them to the next available airports, whatever measures that will be taken to fly our pilgrims to Hajj, we will do so. But as I said, we don’t have that fear. All our pilgrims will be airlifted as scheduled,” she assured.
In a statement later released and made available to Tribune Online, Usara informed that as of day 19 of the current airlift operation, a total of 37,102 Nigerian pilgrims had been airlifted to Saudi Arabia. This figure excluded officials and other industry stakeholders involved in the Hajj operations.
She further explained that currently, the commission ran between four and six flights daily, with only 13,176 pilgrims yet to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia.
“The Hajj flights have been departing as planned, beginning with the initial three flights per day from the day of the inaugural flight. This gradually increased to a maximum of six flights daily. Currently, NAHCON runs a minimum of four flights daily to a maximum of six flights, depending on the schedule. About 13,176 pilgrims are yet to be airlifted, and this number would have reduced before the end of today (Monday),” she stated.
Usara also gave a breakdown of the remaining pilgrims yet to fly to the Holy Land for this year’s pilgrimage. She explained that Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) each had one flight left to complete their airlift, with the FCT having only 33 pilgrims left in Nigeria.
“A breakdown of the states yet to conclude the airlift shows one more flight each remaining from the following locations: Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kebbi, and FCT, with 33 pilgrims on the ground. All South-South states will be airlifted in one flight with seats residue yet.
Taraba, with a little over 1,000 pilgrims, is yet to commence airlift as scheduled, while Kwara, Jigawa, Niger, and Sokoto are continuing with the airlift of their pilgrims steadily on course.
As approved in the airlift agreement, all carriers deployed the agreed number of aircraft for the exercise. Max Air has provided two operational aircraft with one available as standby.
“While the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress is causing apprehension among some concerned pilgrims, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria wishes to assure pilgrims and other concerned Muslims that the strike action will not affect the Hajj airlift. From NAHCON’s projection, all pilgrims will be transported to Saudi Arabia before the 10th of June 2024.”
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