2023 Hajj Concludes as Last Flight Returns to Nigeria
THE Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Nigerians for their tremendous support for the Commission during the just concluded Haji operation.
The Chairman stated this on Monday during his address to the last set of Nigerian pilgrims at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia before their departure to Nigeria.
He acknowledged the assistance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to the successful organisation of the 2023 Hajj.
He stressed that the intervention of the Vice President enabled the Commission to transfer its trapped funds to Saudi Arabia and also persuade the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) to allocate more slots to Nigerian Airlines.
Read Also:
“I want to sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Nigerian Government, especially the President and Vice President for their timely intervention and support all through this operations. Their invaluable support really contributed in no small measure to achieve today’s success story” he said.
PRNIGERIA reports that Monday’s flight marks the conclusion of the in-bound flight of Nigerian pilgrims with the final airlift of 298 Kaduna pilgrims, one Bauchi pilgrim and 16 officials by Azman Airline.
“The Second Phase of the Operation which began on 4th July, 2023 after the completion of the Hajj rites with the airlift of Sokoto State Pilgrims by Flynas was a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions which was amplified by the non-provision of slots to the Nigerian Carriers by the Saudi’s General Authority on
Civil Aviation (GACA).
“But after the resolution of the impasse following the intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, it has been a smooth-sailing.
“It would be recalled that August 3rd was initially fixed as the final day of operation but the injection of additional aircraft by Max Air and Flynas had helped to ease the tension and increase the tempo of the operation. With the operation of the 183rd shuttle flight brings to an end, the 2023 Hajj Operations,” a statement by NAHCON’s Deputy Director in charge of Information and Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, read in part.
