2024 Hajj: NAHCON urged to announce inaugural flight date

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organization that monitors and reports Hajj activities, has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to announce the date for the commencement of airlifting Nigerian intending pilgrims from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

IHR in a statement Sunday signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, said almost all major Hajj participating countries have announced the dates of their inaugural flights of their pilgrims.

The CSO said it has always been a tradition in the country for NAHCON to announce the date, venue and which states’ pilgrims will be transported during the county’s inaugural flight to Saudi Arabia.

“We are sad to note that with just a few days left until the closure of the e-track portal for visa issuance, NAHCON is yet to announce when and where the inaugural flight will take place.”

The CSO said the top five hajj countries have so far announced when they will begin airlifting their pilgrims. “Indonesia’s Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizations, Hilman Latief, in a statement recently, said the first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will depart for the Amir Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport (AMAA) in Madina on May 12-23, 2024,”

“The second batch will depart for the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAAIA) in Jeddah from May 24 to June 10.

“Also, Bangladesh and Pakistan announced 9th May as the date of commencement of the airlift while Malaysia will start the airlift on May 11. Even the Ghana Hajj board has publicly announced the 18th of May as the date to kick start airlifting of its pilgrims.”