Hajj: NAHCON Assures Saudi Of Smooth Airlifting Of Intending Pilgrims

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) of hitch-free transportation of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2023 hajj operations.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by the Assistant Director, Information and Publications of the commission, Mousa Ubandawaki.

According to Ubandawaki, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Zikrullah Hassan, made the commitment when he visited the Head Office of GACA in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hassan, while expressing his appreciation to GACA for its support during the 2022 hajj, reiterated the commisson’s commitment to make the 2023 hajj a smooth one.

“Let me put on record my profound gratitude to the authority for its understanding and support during the 2022 Hajj.

“And to assure you that with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) very early ,we will do everything to make sure that the 2023 hajj will record a resounding success.

“We are ready to organise excellent and successful hajj. We are indeed committed to achieve that.

“Now that we have ample time and opportunities to plan and diligently screen the airlines, there won’t be room for complaint and excuses.”

Responding, the GACA’s General Manager on Hajj Operations, Nazim Pazhair, commended NAHCON for its unwavering commitment to uplifting the welfare and service delivery to the Nigerian pilgrims.

“We value the role of NAHCON in hajj management and we are happy that Nigeria has gotten back its allocation of 95,000.

“We hope that the commission will quickly conclude its screening procedure, so that we can begin the preparation of slots and schedule for the airlines.

“We are looking forward to a better working relationship during the Hajj operations,” he said.

Pazhair, therefore, emphasized the need for the two organisations to collaborate with a view to making the 2023 hajj successful.

“We have obligations to the pilgrims all over the world and we want all of them to perform hajj with ease and comfort.

“It is therefore important for both of us to work with unity of purpose so that the pilgrims can attain hajj Mabrur.”