2024 HAJJ: First batch of pilgrims depart for Saudi Arabia May 15
By OUR REPORTER
The inaugural flight of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise will leave the country for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 with pilgrims from Kebbi State booked for the first flight.
The Chairman, National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, announced on Thursday May 2 at the ongoing 1st National Stakeholders Summit of Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah Industry, held at the Shehu Musa Centre, Abuja.
Arabi said over 65, 000 Nigerian pilgrims would be performing this year’s pilgrimage while assuring on the readiness and commitment of the commission to airlift every registered pilgrim to and fro Saudi Arabia without any difficulty.
Recall that NAHCON had earlier announced FlyNas, Air Peace and Max Air as the successful airlines to transport the Nigerian pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj.
According to the commission, Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, would transport intending pilgrims from: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers while FlyNas, a Saudi’s airline, will airlift pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.
Max Air, another Nigerian air transporter with the highest allocation of pilgrims, will be responsible for moving pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states as well as Armed Forces’ pilgrims to the Holy land.
Although not mentioned by the NAHCON chairman, Nasarawa pilgrims, sceduled to be airlifted by Max Air, are said to commence their movement to the Holy Land same day after the inaugural flight to be done with Kebbi pilgrims onboard FlyNas.
