The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) stated that the number of Muslims who expressed interest in performing the 2023 hajj but were unable to register due to the exhaustion of the country’s 95,000 slots demonstrated the need for more slots.
In a press conference on Friday night, marking the last flight carrying Nigerian pilgrims who go through State Pilgrim Welfare Boards, NAHCON Chairman Zikrullah Hassan stated that no registered pilgrims would be left in the country.
Despite the difficulties encountered during the airlift, Hassan stated that it would be the first time in ten years that it had used all of the slots allotted to it by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He thanked Allah for making the airlift a success in the absence of last year’s events, which saw some intending pilgrims fail to make the journey despite having registered and paid.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia has been making the move for us to get more slots and he mentioned it at the recent meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
This year’s operation is the first time in 10 years that we will be going to Saudi Arabia with the total number of over 95,000. It has taken a while for Nigerian pilgrims to reach this number. The beauty of it is that despite the number, we are able to airlift all the pilgrims of the state. Those of the tour operators who are challenged, by 2am after midnight of Saturday, the last of tour operators’ pilgrims with a chartered aircraft will leave Lagos.
We are safe to conclude that every of the operation managed by NAHCON, as far as, airlift is concerned, they are going to be in Saudi Arabia to be part of Arafat this year, he said.
He added that there would be another flight by 2pm on Saturday which would not contain pilgrims but officials of the commission.
He commended the selected airlines for the airlift for their patience with the several challenges faced but overcome.
I must salute the patience and spirit of accommodation that was displayed by the airlines, it was tough, we couldn’t pay them in time bit they were resili8and that was why we have today to thank Allah, NAHCON chairman said.
He added that the commission would pray for the peace and prosperity of the country while in the Holy Land, stating that the commission would soon begin strategizing on bringing the pilgrims back without any hassle.