2023 Hajj: 31,533 Pilgrims Return, Over 40,000 Still In Saudi Arabia

Date: 2023-07-18

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.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdulrazaq Akorede     Dogara     Olusola Saraki     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Azeez Bello     Toyin Saraki     NTA Ilorin     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Funmi Salau     CLAY POT     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Sadiq Umar     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     LAK Jimoh     KWIRS     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Lukman Adeloyin     Saka Isau     Osinbajo     Vasolar Consortium     TESCOM 2025     Funmilayo Zubair     Yakubu Danladi     Aso Ofi     Afetu Of Alabe     Ilota     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Budo-Egba     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Galadiman Ngeri     Nigerian Army     Nigerian Correctional Service     Igbaja     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Oko-Olowo     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Col. Taiwo     KWATMA     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Ajase-Ipo     Durosinlohun Kawu     Kwara State Governor     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Awodun     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Ojuekun     Aliyu U. Tilde     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Kwara Metro Park     Onilorin     Yunus Oniboki     Segun Abifarin     Jaigbade Alao     Just Event Online     Igosun     Okin High School     Ethical College     April 11     National Information Technology Development Agency     Wasiu Odewale     Sango-UITH Road     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Ibrahim Akaje     Al-Hikmah Radio     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Ronke Adeyemi     Babaita     Ekweremadu     Sa\'adu Gambari     Balikis Jawondo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Muritala Olarewaju     Igosun     Ramat Oganija     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Olosi Of Osi     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Maryam A. Garuba     Halimah Perogi     Salami Adekunle     KWAFFA     Tsaragi/Share     Gbenga Awoyale     Muhammed Abdullahi     Diagnostic Centre     Lafia Aliyu Korasabi     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Irepodun     African Democratic Congress     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Saliu Alamoyo     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Kwarareports     Okanlawon Musa     Arandun     Galland Marcias     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Kwara State Sports Commission     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Tinubu     Kannike     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Esinrogunjo     Valsolar Consultoria     Waziri Yakubu Gobir     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Ajase-Ipo     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Atiku Abubakar     Makama Of Ilorin     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Sai Kayi     Folaranmi Aro     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Emir Of Ilorin     Erubu     Moronfoye     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Ijagbo     2017 Budget     Amuda Aluko     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Ojuekun Sarumi     Unilorin     Pakata     Air Peace     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Kunle Suleiman     Wale Oladepo     Hassan A. Saliu     Curfew     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Oko-Erin     Ayobami Akanbi     Taiwo Joseph     Dan Masanin     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Women Radio     Mohammed Lawal Bagega