The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the inaugural flight of 2024 Hajj will commence on May 15, 2024 with the airlifting of the first batch of Kebbi State pilgrims
This was made known by the Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi at the 1st National Stakeholders Hajj and Umrah Summit held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Thursday.
The 2-day event is themed: “Partnership, Collaboration, and Teamwork: The Tripod of Success for
2024 Hajj Operations
Arabi added that over 65, 000 pilgrims would be performing this year’s pilgrimage, assuring readiness and commitment to airlift everyone to and fro Saudi Arabia without any hassle.
The Commission’s Commissioner in charge of Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing, Prince Elegushi, confirmed that as of yesterday evening, over 26,000 visas have been processed.
Recall that NAHCON had earlier announced FlyNas, Air Peace and Max Air as air carrier for the 2024 hajj, Flynas will kick-start the outbound flight with Kebbi pilgrims on May 15. Other states flynas will ferry to Saudi Arabia subsequently are Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Borno, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.
Air Peace would transport pilgrims from: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers.
Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for flying Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states and the Armed Forces pilgrims.
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It’s the spirit of synergy, innovation
In his welcome address, the Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Professor Mohammed Nasir Maituare said the idea of the summit aligns with the idea of the vice President, Sen Kashim Shettima who challenged the 5th board to bring fresh perspectives to the industry.
“This historic event, no doubt comes at a pivotal moment when preparations for 2024 Hajj are being concluded.
“Furthermore, the Summit aligns perfectly with His Excellency the Vice Presidents call for synergy and fresh perspectives to the operations of the commission when inaugurating the 5th Board of NAHCON. This summit embodies that very spirit of synergism and innovativeness, as envisioned by His Excellency.
“Therefore, as we stand on the threshold of the 2024 Hajj season, it is imperative that we, as a collective body serving the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, come together in a spirit of unity and cooperation. As we all know very well, Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage, a cornerstone of Islam, and a deeply personal journey for the pilgrims. It is, therefore, our shared responsibility to ensure a smooth, fulfilling, and spiritually enriching experience for all Nigerian pilgrims. Allah SWT, in Surah Al-Maidah, 5:2, commands us thus: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and rancur.”
“This summit serves as a crucial platform for fostering such cooperation and collaboration between NAHCON, SMPWBs, Private Tour Operators and all the industry stakeholders assembled here today. Through open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and a commitment to working together, we can address potential challenges that may arise and ensure the successful execution of 2024 Hajj operations.
“In closing, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for their leadership in hosting this inaugural National Stakeholders’ Summit. Their dedication to a successful Haji experience for all Nigerians is truly commendable. We are also deeply appreciative of the generous sponsorship provided by Lotus Bank. Their support has been instrumental in making this important event a reality. We pray to Allah SWT that this summit will serve as a catalyst for fostering a more unified approach to serving the needs of Hajj pilgrims by all stakeholders,” Maiturare said.
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