Airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims begins Thursday

AS pilgrims returned Tuesday to their abodes in Makkah after six days of observation Hajj rites in the neighbouring cities of Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced Thursday as the commencement of airlifting of pilgrims back to Nigeria.

However, the in-bound flight schedule, according to NAHCON spokesman, Malam Uba Mana, is subject to approval at the post-Arafah meeting billed for Wednesday at Nigeria’s Hajj Mission in Jeddah.

At a briefing with tour operators Tuesday at NAHCON Office in Makkah, NAHCON Commissioner in charge of operations, Abdullah Muhammad Mukhtar said the return journey would be completed within 27 days.

Reviewing the out-bound trip which commenced on September 6, 2014, Mukhtar expressed satisfaction that the airlifting operation ended successfully on September 28 “without demanding for an extension to bring in all our pilgrims from Nigeria.”

He explained further, “Altogether, we were able to operate about 145 flights. All those pilgrims that were supposed to come, either under the government (known as states pilgrims) or private tour operators were also moved to Arafah ground on October 3 for the most important Hajj rites. And God willing, the return journey will commence on October 9 and we hope that, within a span of maximum of 27 days, we should be able to bring everybody back home with his accompanied luggage.

“That is our hope and prayer. And those with excess luggage, they are being advised to patronise only accredited excess luggage carriers so that they will get their luggage back home in good time. Our advice is for pilgrims to adhere strictly to the flight schedule given by the state officials, which will be coordinated by NAHCON and they should only come to the airport with their hand luggage and 10 litres of ZamZam water. Two or multiple hand luggage will not be tolerated for their own safety and for the convenience of other pilgrims that are going to travel with them.”

Mukhtar debunked the rumours that some intending pilgrims missed the out-bound journey. “No pilgrim was left behind in Nigeria. Absolutely, it is not true that some pilgrims were left behind. I was the last person that boarded the last flight that left Kaduna on September 28 and that marked the end of all flights from Nigeria.”

On the possibility of the remaining 26 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims who are about to visit the holy city of Madinah to return to Nigeria through Madinah International Airport, Mukhtar said, “We are discussing with the carriers and relevant authorities in the Kingdom. But the experiment of flying directly into Madinah started two years ago with just 15 per cent. Later, it was raised to 50 per cent and this year, we recorded 83 per cent of direct flight to Madinah. So, we are hoping that, In sha Allahu, if the authorities accept our request, we hope to experiment on the return journey from Madinah airport. But that is not a guarantee. We are only prayerful and requesting. This also depends on the co-operation we receive from the carriers and the conduct of our pilgrims.

“So far, I am happy to say that Nigerian pilgrims have made our country proud. There was no case of any arrest of anybody who misbehaved. Also, I am happy to note that our carriers.”