Strike Will Not Affect Airlifting Of Pilgrims, NAHCON Assures
. Says All Pilgrims Will Be Transported To Saudi Arabia Before June 10
By Sulaimon Salau
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured that the nationwide strike action by labour unions will not affect the ongoing airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The Commission gave the assurance in a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs.
While also giving an update on the airlift so far, NAHCON said that “By day 19 of the 2024 Hajj airlift, 37,102 pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia, this
number excludes officials and other Hajj industry stakeholders involved in the Hajj
operations.”
The Commission added that “The Hajj flights have been departing as planned, beginning with the initial three flights per day from day of the inaugural flight. This gradually increased to a maximum of six flights daily.
” Currently, NAHCON runs a minimum of four flights daily to
a maximum of six flights depending on the schedule.
“About 13,176 pilgrims are yet to be airlifted and this number would have reduced before the end of today.”
NAHCON disclosed that “A breakdown of the states yet to conclude the airlift shows one more flight each remaining from the following locations: Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kebbi, and FCT with 33 pilgrims on ground. All South-South states will be airlifted in one flight with seats residue yet. Taraba with a little over 1,000 pilgrims is yet to commence
airlift as scheduled while Kwara, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto are continuing with airlift of their pilgrims steadily on course.”
It noted that “As approved in the airlift agreement, all carriers deployed the agreed number of aircraft for the exercise. Max Air has provided two operational aircraft with one available as standby.”
It assured that “While the strike embarked upon by the National Labour Congress is causing apprehension among some concerned pilgrims, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria wishes to assure pilgrims and other concerned Muslims that the strike action will not affect the Hajj airlift.”
The Commission stressed that
“From NAHCON’s projection, all pilgrims will be transported to Saudi Arabia before 10 of June 2024.”
