Tag: NAHCON

Over 53,000 Nigerian Pilgrims airlifted back home… August 3rd sets for final flight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. About three weeks into the commencement of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi, over 53,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to Nigeria in 136 flights, with August 3rd set for the final flight. The in-bound operation began on July 4th with the airlift of 387 Sokoto pilgrims by Flynas; a Saudi base airline after the completion of the symbolic stoning of the Jamrats and completion of Hajj rites. Though initially bedeviled by non-provision of slots to many of the airlines, except the Flynas;…

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Ringing the bell of 2024 Hajj… for the ears of Hajj administrators

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Ibrahim Muhammed “A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”  Anonymous Recently, Independent Hajj Reporters released a public statement urging NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Boards to immediately activate the process of registering intending pilgrims that wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj. The statement hinged its call on the early release of the 2024 Hajj calendar by the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah – detailing the allotted date for each major preparatory event preceding the 2024 Hajj days. In reaction, some critical…

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The Guardian Gafe on 2023 Hajj

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The attention of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been drawn to the lead story in the Friday, July 21, 2023 edition of The Guardian Newspaper with the caption “Tears, Complaint Trails Nigeria’s Hajj… N304 Billion Capital flight to Makkah.”  The Guardian as one of the leading lights of Nigerian print journalism for decades, has a reputation for promoting fair reportage and analyses of issues and events.  This, however, was not the case with the seemingly sponsored story under reference purported to be The Guardian’s evaluation of the…

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Armed Forces Pilgrims decry abandonment at Jeddah Airport, more than 24 hours after leaving Makkah

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. Nigerian Armed Forces Pilgrims to the 2023 Hajj have decried being abandoned in Jeddah Airport more than 24 hours after being evacuated from Makkah by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON for a 7pm flight Saturday.  Speaking to Voice of Liberty and Liberty News via phone, one of the pilgrims,  a retired General said they left Makkah 5pm Saturday 22 July, 2023 for a stipulated 7pm flight to Lagos by Azman, but later delayed to 5pm “with scanty information”. In his word “we left Mecca…

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Hajj not a capital flight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Fatima Sanda Usara The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) observed with dismay how some media outlets, for whatever reasons, have carried on with campaigns of calumny against the Commission despite several press briefings and press releases clearly explaining reasons and solutions to hitches encountered in the 2023 Hajj operations.  In its bid to carry the press along, who in turn it is believed would clarify issues for their readers, NAHCON had kept the press updated about all knotty issues even before they become obvious, and sometimes only after…

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Over 45,000 Nigerian Pilgrims airlifted back home, final flight for August 3rd

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. About two weeks into the commencement of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi, over 45,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to Nigeria in 116 flights, with August 3rd set for the final flight. The in-bound operation began on July 4th with the airlift of 387 Sokoto pilgrims by Flynas; a Saudi base airline after the completion of the symbolic stoning of the Jamrats and completion of Hajj rites. Though initially bedeviled by non-provision of slots to many of the airlines except the Flynas;…

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2023 Hajj: Comparative Success Sans Masha’er

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir.  Standing in the heart of Makkah, Saudi Arabia at Ummul-joud, staring at the gigantic Nigeria Hajj Commission office, nostalgically reminds you of the Hajj House located in the heart of the Central Business District Area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.  The similarities between these two gigantic structures stomach what it embodies. They are the symbols of the annual Muslim Pilgrimages to Islam’s holiest of places. And in-between, the rituals of lesser hajj; Umrah.  Both structures in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia bear the signatures of…

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Hajj Return Flights; Nigeria gets more slots to speed up exercise

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. The Saudi Arabia General Authority on Aviation GACA has approved more slots for Nigerian Hajj operations airlines to airlift more Nigerians back home, after initial dragging of foot. The approval followed several meetings between the Nigerian Hajj authorities and Saudi authorities which initially limited the number of flights and the capacity of each airline out of the holy land after the conclusion of Hajj rites. Beginning from Wednesday, 12th July, 2023 all the Nigerian licensed carriers would begin to operate their in-bound flight to Nigeria…

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Non pilgrims’ invasion of Mina Tents causes inconvenience – Mutawif It’s your fault, we’ve no control over the place – NAHCON

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah The inconveniences suffered by Nigerian pilgrims in Mina Saudi Arabia, following insufficient tents that saw some pilgrims sleeping outside in harsh weather with no food and packed full toilet facilities is associated to the invasion of their tents by non pilgrims before their arrivals. Umar Bader Ali Bafakeek, the Chief Executive of Company  Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non Arab Countries made this assertion at a meeting with the Nigerian Hajj authorities in Makkah.  Bafakeek alleged that some of these non pilgrims mostly of African…

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Mina Tent Shortage: 10,000 Nigerian Pilgrims move to new site

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. Following the concerns raised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON on shortage of tents in Mina that has inconvenienced Nigerian Pilgrims, the Saudi authorities have agreed to relocate about10,000 pilgrims to a new site in order to decongest the present tents.  The decision was sequel to the complaint lodged bNAHCON to the Muttawwif of African Non Arabs on inadequate tents, inadequate food supply and late food service to the pilgrims. A statement by Mousa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director, Information and Publication NAHCON  said the…

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