Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has charged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to, as a matter of urgency, put in place necessary facilities at the country’s Hajj departure zones to ensure a seamless airlift operation during this year’s Hajj.
A statement issued by the NAHCON, signed by the Deputy Director of the Information and Publication of the Commission, Mousa Ubandawaki, said that the provision of necessary navigation equipment and facilities at Hajj departure centres across the country would facilitate smooth Hajj airlift operation.
The statement was issued after the courtesy call of the members of FAAN’s Hajj Committee on the acting Chairman of NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Arabi , in his office in Abuja.
The NAHCON chairman urged the committee to be time-conscious as they would have limited time to carry out their assignments, going by the timeline set by Saudi Arabia for all nations to conclude all Hajj arrangements.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation, who is the Director of Airport Operations, Capt Mukhtar Muye, said that the Authority had commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj two months ago.
He assured that the exercise would be completed before the commencement of Hajj airlift in the 16 departure Airports across the country.
Muye urged the commission to persuade the tour operators to comply with the arrangements of airlifting their pilgrims through the international terminals instead of the Hajj terminal.
He said that it denies the Authority of valuable revenue that they supposed to generate for the purpose of providing the necessary infrastructural facilities at the airports.
He assured the commission of the Authority’s commitment to discharge its duties diligently so that Nigerian pilgrims can enjoy a hitch- free airlift during the 2024 Hajj operation.
