NAHCON Ends 2023 Hajj Train, Hails Tinubu, Nigerians For Help

The chairman of the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Nigerians for his or her large assist for the Fee throughout the just-concluded 2023 Hajj operations.

He expressed the appreciation whereas addressing the final set of Nigerian pilgrims on the King Abdulaziz Worldwide Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier than their departure to Nigeria on Monday.

He acknowledged the help of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, to the profitable organisation of the 2023 Hajj train, stressing that for the intervention of the Vice President, which enabled the fee to switch its trapped funds to Saudi Arabia and likewise persuade the Basic Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) to allocate extra slots to Nigerian Airways.

“I wish to sincerely specific our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Nigerian Authorities, particularly, the President and Vice President for his or her well timed intervention and assist all by way of this operations. Their invaluable assist actually contributed in no imply time period to attain as we speak’s success story,” he stated.

Based on the NAHCON in a press release by its deputy director of data and publication, Alhaji Mousa Ubandanwaki, the Monday’s airlift marked the conclusion of the in-bound flight of Nigerian pilgrims with the ultimate airlift of 298 Kaduna pilgrims, one Bauchi State pilgrim and 16 officers by Azman Airways coming 4 days forward of the unique date of August 3 slated for the completion of home-bound operation.

The second part of the airlift operation which started on July 4, 2023 after the completion of the Hajj rites with the airlift of Sokoto State pilgrims by Flynas was a rollercoaster of challenges and feelings, which was amplified by the non-provision of slots to the Nigerian Carriers by the Saudi’s Basic Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA).

However after the decision of the deadlock following the intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, it has been a smooth-sailing.

Recall that August 3 was initially fastened as the ultimate day of operation however the injection of further plane by Max Air and Flynas had helped to ease the strain and enhance the tempo of the operation.

The operation of the 183rd shuttle flight delivered to an finish the 2023 Hajj operations.