The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has stated that the airlift for Nigerian intending pilgrims who paid for the 2025 Hajj would commence May 9.
A statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, revealed that 43,000 pilgrims paid for the pilgrimage from the 75 slots given to the state government.
This is 9,000 short from the 52,000 the commission had earlier said it paid for their slot.
In the statement, Usara said the date was chosen following a meeting with State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Executive Secretaries under the Forum of States yesterday to assess the level of preparedness of the state pilgrims’ boards.
It quoted NAHCON’s chairman, Prof. Abdullah Saleh Usman, as reminding the house that the Hajj industry is in the last lap of preparation before commencement of the Hajj season.
He called on the states to update NAHCON on the level each state has reached in visa production, vaccination, bags procurement and other sundry matters.
Its Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, disclosed that Air Peace has been assigned 5,128 pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba states.
FlyNas was allocated 12,506 pilgrims from Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Max Air is airlifting pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo and Plateau states with a promise to conclude airlift of its 15,203 pilgrims by 24th of May.
Umza has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Yobe states.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Chairman of NAHCON said they briefed the vice president on the Hajj preparations for this year, 2025, and that the vice president is very happy with the preparations.
Speaking earlier, the vice president charged the commission to ensure that all hands are on deck to ensure the success of the hajj exercise.
“All necessary measures must be taken to guarantee the success of the 2025 Hajj. We owe it to all Nigerians and our pilgrims to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he said.
(Agency Report)
