2023 Hajj: 31,533 Pilgrims Return, Over 40,000 Still In Saudi Arabia
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has so far transported 31, 533 Nigerian pilgrims back home out of 75, 000 that performed 2023 hajj in Saudi Arabia through the commission and states pilgrims' welfare boards.
A total of 95, 000 Nigerians performed this year's Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 20, 000 of them travelling for the spiritual pilgrimage using private tour operators.
Eight flights conveying 3,172 pilgrims from Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Ondo, Borno, Kaduna and officials landed in Lagos, Abuja, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Ilorin and Maiduguri respectively yesterday.
According to the flight update from the Command and Control Centre of NAHCON, the flights bring the number of flights that have departed the Holy Land to Nigeria since the commencement of home-bound journey to 81 flights.
This means, no fewer 40, 000 Nigerians out of the 95, 000 that performed the 2023 Hajj rites are still in Saudi Arabia,18 days after the conclusion of the spiritual pilgrimage.
The slow pace of home-bound journey, according to NAHCON in a statement earlier released by its deputy director of information and publication, Alhaji Mousa Ubandanwak, was due to non-availability of slots to the Nigerian licenced carriers in the first week of the second phase of the airlift operation.
Nigerian licenced carriers started in-bound flight to Nigeria optimally July 12 after a high level meeting between NAHCON and the Saudi's General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) on the slow pace of the airlift operation.
The outcome of the meeting paved way for five Nigerian licenced airlines -Max Airline, Air Peace, Aero Contractor and Azman, as well as Arik Air which was dedicated to the airlift of private tour operators.
The commission has been disturbed about the situation which it had been battling with since the commencement of the second phase of the airlift operation.
“The GACA had refused to allot slots to the Nigerian airlines to speed up the return of pilgrims back home.
“Several representations and meetings were held. The intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ambassador Dauda Yahaya Lawal achieved little success until the issue was escalated to the highest level of government before the situation was finally resolved,” the commission said in a statement.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Mohammed Abdulahi Borgu Bayo Ajia CKNG Oyin-Zubair Lateef Fagbemi National Union Of Road Transport Workers Ejidongari Lanre Aremu General Hospital Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Trader Moni George Innih Bello Abubakar Elerin Of Erin-Ile Solomon Edoja Jide Oyinloye Minimum Wage Bio Ibrahim Salman Jawondo Usman Yunusa Abdulkadir Jimoh Omu-aran Falokun-Oja Olupako KwaraLearn Ilorin Emirate KWIRS Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi Elerinjare-Ibobo AGM Professional Services Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa Tafidan Kaiama Mufutau Olatinwo Abdulquowiyu Olododo Kazeem Oladepo Dogara Salau Kabiru Abdullahi Joseph Offorjama Salihu Yahaya James Ayeni Ajibola Saliu Ajia Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu Binta Abubakar Mora Kwha.gov.ng Victor Gbenga Yusuf Barakat Community Secondary School Yinka Aluko Raheem Adaramaja Tope Daramola Oke-Odo Daud Adeshola Javed Khan Funmilayo Oniwa Kunle Akogun Kwara TV Baboko Ghali Alaaya Olusegun Adeniyi Malete Alfa Modibo Belgore Halimat Yusuf Isiaka Abdulrazak Admiralty Villa Lawyers Unite Against Corruption Abatemi Usman Ibikunle Ogunleye Arik Sulyman Tejidini Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Idris Garba Kayode Yusuf Ahmed Alhasssan Kwara Metro Park The Herald Babaita Kwara State University Of Education

