Wilson Adekumola
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has promised to the General Authority on Civil Aviation in Jedda, Saudi Arabia of better service of airlifting of Nigeria pilgrims for this year’s Hajj operations.
The commission made the declaration during a visit to the GACA head office Thursday.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCO, Ahlaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, commended the efforts of the authority for support during last year’s Hajj , reassure his commitment to make this year’s Hajj a better and easy one.
He said, “Let me put on record my profound gratitude to the authority for understanding and support during last year’s Hajj and to assure you that with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding very early, we will do everything to ensure this year’s Hajj record a resounding success.
“We are ready to organize an excellent and successful Hajj. We are indeed committed to achieving that. Now that we have ample time and opportunity to plan and diligently screened the airlines, there wont be room for complaints and excuse.”
The General Manager, GACA, Hajj Operations, Naxim Pazhair, praised NAHCO for concerted efforts to improve the welfare and service delivery to the Nigeria pilgrim.
“We value the role of NAHCO in Hajj management and we are happy that Nigeria has given back its allocation of 95,000. We hope that the commission will quickly conclude the screening procedure so that we can begin the preparation of slots and schedule for the airlines. We are looking forward to bettering working relationship during the Hajj oprations.”
He asserted the need for the organization to work together with a view to making this year’s Hajj a huge success.
“We have obligations to pilgrim all over the world and we want all of them to perform Hajj with ease and comfort. It is with the unity of purpose so that the pilgrims can obtain Hajj Mabrur.”
Among those who were on the Chairman’s entourage include: Nigeria Consul-General to Saudi Arabia, Amb. Mansur Abdukareem, The Commissioners in Charge of Operations Licensing and Inspectorate, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, Policy Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, Commissioner Planning, Research Statistics Information and Library Srvices PRSLS Sheik Suleman Momoh, representative of the Forum of Chairman/Secretaries, President of AHUON, Ahaji Yahaya Nasidi and the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Abdullahi Kotangora.
Similarly, the commission has signed an agreement with car syndicate.
It was said that GACA has released the schedule for Hajj flights for the 023 Hajj Operations.
A memo entitled Hajj instruction governing carriage of pilgrims by air released by GACA yesterday shows that the airport will open for the first flight carrying hajj pilgrims on May 21 and close for arrivals of hajj flights on June 22.
It was said that departure flight will start on July 2 and will end on August 2.
GACA has also advised all hajj participating countries to submit operating requirement on or before February 20.
It is reported that Saudi Arabia Kingdom will entertain over 2 million pilgrims at this year’s hajj.