HAJJ 2024: SAUDI AIRLINE, FLYNAS ARRIVES NIGERIA AS FIRST SET OF PILGRIMS TO DEPART TODAY

By Ajape Sefiu A.

• Air Peace to depart by 11:30 am with 310 FCT pilgrims, five officials
• Max Air departs by 1:10 p.m. with 550 Nasarawa pilgrims, 10 officials

Flynas, a Saudi airline and one of the three selected to lead the 2024 Hajj airlift, arrived on time at Birnin Kebbi’s Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport (SABIA) at 10:39 PM, prepared to take pilgrims on their holy Hajj journey to Saudi Arabia.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara.

Along with his three permanent commissioners and the commissioner for the North West, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), was on the ground inspecting the aircraft.

Leading the FlyNas team throughout the inspection, Malam Umar Kaila, a FlyNas representative in Nigeria and a small number of NAHCON management personnel are also among the entourage.

The statement partly read, “Meanwhile, in a dinner party organized by the Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, in honor of the NAHCON Chairman, the Governor expressed appreciation that for the first time, Kebbi State is hosting an inaugural flight for Hajj. Both the host and Special Guest appreciated each other for the inaugural flight project. The governor added that he will continue to support NAHCON and his pilgrims even in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.

“Earlier, the NAHCON Chairman inspected Abuja’s Bassa Jiwa Hajj Transit Camp, the Hajj and the Birnin Kebbi Hajj Camp to ascertain the arrangements already on ground for the airlift commencement.

“He was accompanied on both occasions by the respectable Executive Secretaries of the State Pilgrims’ Boards: Malam Abubakar Adamu Evuti for FCT and Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Enabo. The chairman commended them for jobs well done.

“Three flights are scheduled to depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia today; Air Peace is scheduled to depart by 11: 30 am with 310 FCT pilgrims five officials, while Max Air departs by 1: 10pm with 550 Nasarawa pilgrims and 10 officials. Both carriers will take off from Abuja International Airport.