According to NAHCON, “This marks the 119 return flight from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.”
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that the final batch of the 2024 Hajj pilgrims from Nigeria will be arriving in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, Nigeria from the King Abdul Azeez International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The commission which made this known in a statement issued by its Assistant Director/Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, said that a total of 312 pilgrims from Kwara would be arriving in Ilorin via an Air Peace airline flight.
According to NAHCON, “This marks the 119 return flight from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.”
The statement noted, “During the first phase of the Hajj operation, NAHCON ran a total of 121 flights, which has now been reduced to 119 flights for the return journey.
“The reduction in flights was attributed to the maximum utilization of seats during the return journeys. The return journey ends three days ahead of schedule, being earlier planned to end by July 19, 2024.
The Commission’s chartered airlines took 27 days to transport all pilgrims into the Kingdom during the first phase of the Hajj journey, with the return phase now lasting 25 days.
“By the 25th day of the outbound flight from Nigeria, a total of 47,171 pilgrims were transported, while 50,091 were able to return to Nigeria within the same span of 25 days in the second phase.
“In a closing ceremony at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah airport, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi expressed gratitude to the Almighty for the successful completion of the return journey.
“He commended stakeholders for their cooperation and the pilgrims for their prayers for their leaders at federal and state levels.
“The Chairman urged them to continue praying for the success of their leaders and to maintain their good conduct, describing this year’s Hajj achievements as a promise fulfilled.
“He promised that the Commission would achieve even greater success next year based on the lessons learnt this year.
“The Chairman also assured that preparations for the 2025 Hajj have already begun.”
The statement added that Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, the Amirul Hajj for Kwara State, expressed his gratitude to the NAHCON Chairman for his quick responses to issues and stated his conviction to thank him publicly and privately.
Senator Oloriegbe appreciated the commission for its timely processing of visas, the convenient stay in Madinah not more than four days all within the first phase.
On behalf of the pilgrims, he thanked their governor, NAHCON as well as other Hajj officials from the states and stakeholders.