The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will commence the airlift of pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj, with the first flight scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on 9 May.
This was disclosed yesterday following a briefing to Vice President Kashim Shettima by the NAHCON board at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner in charge of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Anofi Elegushi, said that all necessary logistics had been finalised to ensure a seamless pilgrimage.
He noted that accommodation and feeding arrangements had been secured in Mecca, Medina and other key locations.
“We have all of our accommodation intact in Mecca, Medina and other locations. They are ready to take our pilgrims; we have secured enough bed spaces and paid for adequate feeding,” Elegushi said.
He confirmed that the outbound flights would run from 9 to 24 May, with return airlifts starting on 13 June and concluding by 2 July.
RECOMMENDED POSTS
According to him, NAHCON has made provisions for over 40,000 pilgrims, including officials from the various states and 13,000 others travelling through licensed tour operators.
Also speaking, the Chairman of NAHCON, Saleh Abdullahi Usman, said the Vice President expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for this year’s pilgrimage.
In response to concerns raised by some tour operators over the VIP Tent A facility, the Commission’s Secretary, Mustafa Aaji, has been tasked with addressing and resolving the issue.
Shettima in his remarks, charged the Commission to remain committed to delivering a successful Hajj exercise.
“All necessary measures must be taken to guarantee the success of the 2025 Hajj. We owe it to all Nigerians and our pilgrims to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he stated.
