Like what was obtained during its outbound and inbound flights last year, the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, informed us on Wednesday that Nigerian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would not be flown over Sudan’s airspace during the airlift operation.
Arabi made this known while featuring on a Hausa programme on Kaduna-based Freedom Radio, monitored in Abuja, saying that avoiding the Sudanese airspace is for safety reasons in view of the conflicts in the North African country.
This is even as the chairman revealed that, in view of the high exchange rate of the naira to the dollar, it had been decided that each pilgrim would be given $500 as their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).
According to the NAHCON boss, all was set for the airlift operations for this year’s Hajj, asserting that the three approved airlines, MaxAir, Air Peace, and Flynas, were fully prepared for the tasks ahead of them.
Arabi reiterated NAHCON’s decision to hold the inaugural flight for this year’s operation on Wednesday, May 15, with the first batch of Kebbi State intending pilgrims at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
The chairman expressed confidence and optimism that, barring all unforeseen circumstances, the outward airlift of the pilgrims would be smooth and hitch-free.
He informed me that about 90 per cent of the Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted to Madinah, while the remaining 10 per cent was for a corridor for any eventuality.
He said, as against what happened last year, all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted back home through the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
He, however, warned that pregnant women would not be allowed to participate in this year’s Hajj, saying that this has always been the Saudi law, which had been previously flouted by Nigerians.
According to him, Saudi Arabian authorities had threatened to sanction Nigeria if any pregnant women were included in the country’s contingent for this year’s holy pilgrimage.
“We will not allow any woman with pregnancy, no matter how small it is, to travel (for Hajj this year). This law has always been there for a long time.
“Even though some pilgrims breached it in the past, this time around, we will make sure pregnant women never travel.
“Saudi authorities have also warned us against allowing pregnant women to travel. In fact, they threatened to fine us if we went against the law,” Arabi said.
He then enjoined state pilgrim welfare boards, agencies and commissions to ensure that pregnant women, at whatever stage of their pregnancy, were prevented from embarking on the religious journey for their safety and that of their unborn babies.
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