Hajj 2017: NAHCON airlifts 38,161
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said it has airlifted 38, 161 pilgrims representing 58 percent so far. The Commissioner Operations of the commission Abdullahi Modibbo Saleh told reporters in Abuja at a ‘Special Operation Briefing’ of the commission that the remaining 29,271 representing 42 percent would soon be airlifted and that the […]
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said it has airlifted 38, 161 pilgrims representing 58 percent so far.
The Commissioner Operations of the commission Abdullahi Modibbo Saleh told reporters in Abuja at a ‘Special Operation Briefing’ of the commission that the remaining 29,271 representing 42 percent would soon be airlifted and that the commission would complete the airlifts ahead of schedules.
“Since the inaugural flight on the 30 July that took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, we have airlifted 38,161 of the 65,271 so far and plan to conclude the airlift by 25 or 26 of this month,” Saleh said.
According to him of the 20,000 allocation to the private tour operators, 17,107 have been booked representing 86 percent and that of the133 registered companies licensed for the 2017 exercise, 121 fulfilled the requirement representing 91 percent and 12 did not.
He said that 450 was the highest allocation to one of the operators while 50 was the least.
Also the Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Ibrahim Yusuf Adebayo who stood in for the Chairman of the commission expressed hope that this year’s hajj would be the best so far.
He however listed late arrival of pilgrims especially the first timers as part of the challenge face by the commission.
“There is way to avoid some minor challenges with the movement of numbers of this magnitude, but anytime any challenge came up, we moved in resolved it immediately. Our pilgrims are enjoying the best of transportation and accommodation in the holy land,” Adebayo said.
He also said that 12 aircrafts have so far been involved in the airlift by the approved four carriers of Medview, Max Air, Flynas and Azman.
On his part the Commissioner and Head of Medical of NAHCON Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana said 450 medical personnel were carefully selected and trained to serve Nigerian pilgrims in the hold land and that the operation of the national medical team was such that no pilgrim would walk more than five minutes to be attended to at the clinics mostly situated at the hotels where pilgrims reside.