Uncertainty Trails Planned Airlifting Of Nigeria’s Hajj Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia
Uncertainty Trails Planned Airlifting Of Nigeria’s Hajj Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

Uncertainty Trails Planned Airlifting Of Nigeria’s Hajj Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

Uncertainty Trails Planned Airlifting Of Nigeria’s Hajj Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

The ongoing war in Sudan is threatening the airlifting of Nigeria’s intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, for the 2023 Hajj exercise.

About 95,000 intending pilgrims are expected to participate in the Hajj exercise.

The planned airlifting of the intending pilgrims, appeared to have run into a hitch, following the refusal of four of the five airlines approved to airlift them to go ahead.

Only one of the airlines, Flynas, which is given the right to airlift 40 percent of the pilgrims, agreed to sign the agreement with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Thursday.

Read Also:

Martin Griffiths Aid Chief Says Sudan Rivals Not Ready To End Fight

Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Sikirullahi Hassan made this known after a meeting with the officials of the airlines in Abuja.

He told newsmen that the four airlines refused to sign the airlifting agreement on the ground that they could not fly their planes across Sudanese airspace which had been shut down due to the ongoing war.

Hassan said the airlines would have to find alternative routes to reach Saudi Arabia.

He, however, said there is hope that the war in Sudan may abate before the take off of the airlifting of the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, he said the commission hopes to resolve the issues with all the airline latest Tuesday next week.

Leave a Reply