With the departure of the last batch of 312 Kwara pilgrims from the King Abdulazeez International Airport in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) completed the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj.
The Kwara pilgrims, who were the last batch of Nigerian pilgrims left in the Kingdom, were airlifted by Air Peace. Their airlift was the 119th flight that conveyed the Nigerian contingent back home.
According to NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, during the airlift of the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, NAHCON ran a total of 121 flights, adding that the return flights were reduced to 119 flights.
“The reduction in flights was attributed to the maximum utilisation of seats during the return journeys. The return journey ends three days ahead of schedule, which was earlier planned to end by July 19, 2024,” she stated.
She added that unlike the outbound flights by the three approved airlines, Air Peace, Max Air, and FlyNas, which took 27 days, the return flights were completed in 25 days.
“The Commission’s chartered airlines took 27 days to transport all pilgrims into the Kingdom during the first phase of the Hajj journey, with the return phase now lasting 25 days.
“By the 25th day of the outbound flight from Nigeria, a total of 47,171 pilgrims were transported, while 50,091 were able to return to Nigeria within the same span of 25 days in the second phase,” Usara stated.
Meanwhile, NAHCON Chairman and CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, has expressed gratitude to Allah for the successful completion of the return flight to Nigeria.
Speaking at a closing ceremony at the Hajj Terminal at the King Abdulazeez International Airport in Jeddah on Tuesday, Malam Arabi commended stakeholders for their cooperation and the pilgrims for their prayers for their leaders at the federal and state levels.
He urged them to continue praying for the success of their leaders and to maintain their good conduct, describing this year’s Hajj achievements as a promise fulfilled.
The NAHCON boss promised that the Commission would achieve even greater success next year based on the lessons learned this year.
He also assured that preparations for the 2025 Hajj have already begun.
Also speaking at the event, the Kwara State Amirul Hajj, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, expressed his gratitude to the NAHCON Chairman for his quick responses to issues and stated his conviction to thank him publicly and privately.
Senator Oloriegbe, who spoke in Yoruba and English, appreciated NAHCON for its timely processing of visas and the convenient stay in Madinah for not more than four days, all within the first phase of this year’s Hajj.
He then, on behalf of the Kwara pilgrims, thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, NAHCON, and other Hajj officials from the states and stakeholders.
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