A total of 1,400 Nigerian pilgrims have landed in Saudi Arabia for hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said.
The commission also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing airlift of Nigerian pilgrims by the carriers across the country so far.
NAHCON Chairman and CEO, Zikirullah Kunle Hassan, disclosed this during his Inspection visit to the Hajj Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja.
The chairman was at the airport to monitor the airlift operation of the second batch of Nasarawa pilgrims and inspect the Aero Air aircraft deployed for the exercise.
Mr Hassan who was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Secretary,Nasarawa state pilgrims welfare board, Idris Al-Makura, expressed delight at the pace and the quality of the aircraft deployed for the operation.
He also expressed the hope that the airliners and the state boards would sustain the momentum.
“I am very cool and happy with the way and manner we are going. I’m really satisfied. I pray and hope that we continue in the same way and tempo we started up till the end I pray that we end the operation very well. I Am also particularly very impressed with the quality and standard of the aircraft deployed which has many business class seats. It meant that we can have many business class on board the aircraft,” the chairman said.
It would be recalled that the flagoff/inauguration ceremony of the 2023 Hajj was held on Thursday with the airlift of the first batch of 470 Nasarawa state pilgrims by Max Air to Madinah.
Pilgrims from Zamfara and Kwara states are are expected to be airlifted from Sokoto and Ilorin International airports by Air Peace and Flynas Friday night.
