Stakeholders applaud smooth start of Hajj flights

As the 2024 airlift of Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia commences, stakeholders and pilgrims have commended the airport authorities for the smooth conduct of the exercise. The pilgrims especially hailed the partnership between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) which has ensured the smooth conduct of […]

As the 2024 airlift of Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia commences, stakeholders and pilgrims have commended the airport authorities for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

The pilgrims especially hailed the partnership between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) which has ensured the smooth conduct of the exercise since the take-off flight.

Since the inaugural flight was carried out on May 15, no fewer than 29,621 pilgrims have been airlifted in 71 flights as of Thursday’s afternoon.

It would be recalled that two flights took off simultaneously in the FCT and Kebbi on the 15th of May when the airlift commenced and at the moment 60 to 65 per cent have been airlifted with stakeholders expressing optimism that Nigeria would meet up with the June 10 deadline set by the Saudi authorities to complete airlift into the Holy land.

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Daily Trust reports that there are no fewer than 57,000 pilgrims under the NAHCON/State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards.

And from May 15, airports across the country have been busy with the Hajj airlift. From the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja; and General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, among others, airlines have been airlifting pilgrims to both Makkah and Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The airlines participating in the airlift are Air Peace, Max Air and FlyNas.

The Executive Director of Max Air, Barr. Shehu Wada, said so far the airlift has been going on smoothly.

The Coordinator of Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), Mall. Ibrahim Muhammed said, “So far, so good. They are complying with the airlift so far. Unless some few hitches where we have postponement by airlines. Most of the challenges we have noticed have to do with states that have to move their pilgrims to another state to take off.”

He however observed that some Hajj officials failed to realise that airport operation is global and airports are a security-enhanced environment and some pilgrims also fail to realise this and so tended to cross boundaries by trying to pass through restricted areas of the airport.

Speaking on the ongoing airlift, the FAAN Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, said the airlift has been a success due to the early planning and preparation by the authority.

She said, “The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, commissioned a new Hajj terminal in Sokoto recently which made passenger facilitation easy.

“He had earlier carried out inspection of Hajj facilities in Kano State and flagged off Hajj exercise in Kebbi State ensuring a smooth Hajj operation.

“We looked at the issues that constituted constraints in the past and eliminated them. We provided the needed infrastructure, reinforced security personnel at the airports selected for the service.”

“We also had an early interface with airlines to ensure on-time performance by making the airports ready with critical facilities. We have been receiving commendations because this year’s operation is a positive departure from the past and we intend to sustain and improve on what we have done.”