By Fatima Sanda Usara
By the end of 20th May 2024 being Day 6 of 2024 airlift, FlyNas has transported 4,665 pilgrims followed by Max Air with 4,479.
Air Peace has so far conveyed 1,531 pilgrims within the six days of operations making a combined total of 10,675 pilgrims that have been flown to the Kingdom as at 20th of May.
Thus far, no flight cancellation has been recorded except for a flight delay that resulted in a time shift that affected the Kwara inaugural flight; moving it from yesterday 20th May, 2024 to early hours of today Tuesday 21st May.
Delightedly, Nasarawa state is the first to conclude airlift of its pilgrims totaling 1,794 for the 2024 Hajj season. Oyo and Armed forces are expected to conclude conveyance of their pilgrims tonight with one leg each remaining.
As we approach the second week of inbound flights into Saudi Arabia, states that are about to commence airlifting of their pilgrims include Kaduna, Yobe, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, and Sokoto states. Plateau state pilgrims are slated to depart today as well.
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Pilgrims are advised to be calm and to take note that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has a policy of First-in-First-Out (FIFO) meaning return from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria will follow the same sequence of departure from Nigeria. Therefore, all pilgrims are expected to spend same estimated number of days in the Kingdom according to their time of conveyance.
In another development, the initial challenge in the issuance of Basic Travel allowance to pilgrims has been resolved. Each pilgrim is now entitled to 500 Dollars cash as BTA as approved by NAHCON in place of a credit card.
Usara is Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON.