BREAKING: First Nigerian 2022 Hajj flight lands safely in Jedda, pilgrims arrive Madinah
By KEMI KASUMU
The first 2022 Hajj airlifting flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Maiduguri International Airport on Thursday June 9, and which took off to Saudi Arabia, has landed safely in the world’s Islamic faith headquarters.
The flight, a Max Air VM1001 with 529 pilgrims, which took off at exactly 5:33pm Nigerian time that is 7.33pm Saudi Arabia time to the Kingdom, landed about 10pm that is 12pm Saudi Arabia time at the King AbulAziz International Airport, Jeddah and the pilgrims, upon disembarking, were conveyed by luxury buses amidst the emotion-laden scream of ‘Labaika Allahumma Labaika…” as they proceeded to Madinah for the routine Siyara, visit to the Holy Mosque of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
In a telephone interview Friday morning, Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, the Assistant Director Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), confirmed the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims to The DEFENDER and added that “in fact they are currently in Madiinah.”
This newspaper earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Governor of Borno State Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, performed the flag-off ceremony of the 2022 Hajj airlift in Maiduri on Thursday and that he urged the nation’s first pilgrims in since 2019 to pray for the well-being, peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.
Governor Zulum, who also stood at the ceremony as the governor of the state that he is, expressed his “pleasure to inaugurate the first flight right here from the city of Maiduguri.” This he said is evidence of return of peace to the state.
He said President Buhari commended the supplementary effort of Borno state in ensuring successful commencement of Hajj airlift from Nigeria and congratulated the leadership of NAHCON under Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan for fulfilling the pledge of taking off Hajj flight from the historical city.
President Buhari urged this year pilgrims to pray for the well-being, peace, unity progress and prosperity of the country.
The DEFENDER can authoritatively report that the second flight will also take off from Maiduguri according to the schedule of the Commission.
