Hajj 2023: NAHCON airlifts over 42,000 pilgrims with 100 flights

Seventeen days after the official flag-off of the 2023 Hajj exercise by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), sister agencies and airlines have so far airlifted 42,204 pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since the flag-off on Thursday May 25, 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAHCON and other stakeholders have intensified the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land which is taking place simultaneously across the country.

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Since the commencement of the flights with Max Airplane conveying over 400 Nasarawa pilgrims, 99 other flights have taken off from Abuja, Illorin, Bauchi, Kano, Dutse, Sokoto, Lagos, Gombe, Maiduguri and other cities.

Aside from Max Air, other airlines that were engaged to convey pilgrims to the Holy Land include Flynas, Air Peace, Aero Contractors and Azman.

Also, Air Peace flight P4-7922 departed Lagos to Madinah at 17:35hrs on Sunday with 266 Pilgrims, a milestone of 100 flights have been achieved and a total number of 42,204 pilgrims have been airlifted to the Holy Land so far.

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The 266 pilgrims are made up of 233 from Ekiti (102 Males, 131 Females), 20 from Edo (19 Males, 1 Female) and 13 from Kwara (all males).

NAHCON boss, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, had told journalists after the inaugural flight ceremony a fortnight ago that all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted within 25 days from 15 take-off points across the country.

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The King Fahd International Airport, Jeddah, is expected to be shut on the 22nd of June, 2023.