The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has confirmed the successful airlift 12,769 of intending pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia as Nasarawa State completed the airlifts its pilgrims departure.
The commission’s spokesperson, Fatima Usara, announced on Wednesday that the airlift operations for Kaduna State, which boasts the highest number of registered pilgrims, will commence the same day.
She also said that pilgrims from Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States will also begin their journey to Saudi Arabia.
Kaduna State leads with around 4,600 intending pilgrims, followed by Sokoto with 3,500, and Kano with 3,100 registered individuals.
”Delightedly, Nasarawa State is the first to conclude airlift of its pilgrims, totalling 1,794 for the 2024 Hajj season. Oyo and armed forces are expected to conclude the conveyance of their pilgrims on Tuesday night with one trip each remaining.
”By the end of 20th May 2024, Day 6 of the 2024 airlift, FlyNas has transported 4,665 pilgrims, followed by Max Air with 4,479. Air Peace has so far conveyed 1,531 pilgrims within the six days of operations, making a combined total of 10,675 pilgrims that have been flown to the Kingdom as of the 20th of May.
”No flight cancellation has been recorded except for a flight delay that resulted in a time shift that affected the Kwara inaugural flight, moving it from yesterday, 20th May 2024, to the early hours of today, Tuesday, 21st May,” Usara said.
NAHCON spokesperson noted that as the airlift exercise enters its second week, states scheduled to begin airlifting their pilgrims include Kaduna, Yobe, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, and Sokoto.
Also, Plateau State pilgrims are set to depart today.
The commission also urged pilgrims to remain calm and highlighted that NAHCON operates on a First-in-First-Out policy
This means that the order of return flights from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria will follow the same sequence as the departure flights.
”Therefore, all pilgrims are expected to spend the same estimated number of days in the Kingdom according to their time of conveyance,” Mrs Usara.
Usara announced that the initial issues with issuing Basic Travel Allowance to pilgrims have been resolved. Each pilgrim will now receive $500 in cash as BTA, as approved by NAHCON, instead of a credit card.
To date, 12,760 intending pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia across 30 flights.
In total, approximately 65,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected to perform the 2024 Hajj.
