Hank 2023: Number of Nigerian Pilgrims in Saudi Crosses 50,000 Mark
By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, in Madinah
Barely three weeks after the official flag-off of the 2023 Hajj exercise by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), sister agencies and airlines have so far airlifted 50,059 pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Since the flag-off on Thursday May 25, 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAHCON and other stakeholders have intensified the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land which is taking place simultaneously across the country.
Since the commencement of the flights with Max Air Plane conveying over 400 Nasarawa pilgrims, 118 other flights have taken off from Abuja, Illorin, Bauchi, Kano, Dutse, Sokoto, Lagos, Gombe, Maiduguri and other cities.
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Aside from Max Air, other airlines that were engaged to convey pilgrims to the Holy Land include Flynas, Air Peace, Aero Contractors and Azman.
PRNIGERIA can report that with Aero Contractors flight NIG8045 which departed Abuja to Madinah at 00:01hrs on Thursday with 429 FCT pilgrims (270 Males, 159 Females) and 46 officials, a total of 50,059 Nigerian worshippers have been successfully airlifted to the Holy Land so far in 119 flights.
About 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise.
NAHCON boss, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, had told journalists after the inaugural flight ceremony three weeks ago that all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted within 25 days from 15 take-off points across the country.
The 25-day target is meant to meet up with the deadline set for the closure of the Saudi Arabia airspace.
The King Fahd International Airport, Jeddah, and the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, are expected to be shut on Thursday, 22nd of June, 2023.
