The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has recorded a total of 42,126 airlift of Nigerian pilgrims back home in 100 flights, after performing this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The return airlift had commenced on the September 6, 2017 with Federal Capital Territory and Gombe State pilgrims.

Information from the commissions command and control centre indicated that, the 100th flight was with Max Air flight NGL 2070, that departed Jeddah to Abuja at 06:11hours on Monday, with 555 Nasarawa State Pilgrims and one official.

Abdullahi Mohammed, Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, has assured that all pilgrims will be airlifted back to Nigeria ahead of the scheduled time allotted for Nigeria.

He charged officials of State Pilgrims Board, agencies and the commission to ensure strict compliance and to mobilize their pilgrims for onward movement to Jeddah International Airport as soon as they receive communication from the commission.

“The return airlift is going according to the time allotted to the airlines and we strongly believe that all our pilgrims will return home to meet their loved ones even ahead of the deadline we scheduled for ourselves,” Mr. Mohammed assured.

He congratulated the Saudi authorities for the country’s National Day celebrated on Saturday and commended the custodian of the two Holy Masjid, King Salman, and the Crown Prince, Mohammed Ban Salman for their continued services to Islam and Muslims in the whole world.

Adamu Abdullahi, NAHCON’s Head of Media for Hajj 2017, in a statement, said pilgrims were airlifted back by Flyna, Max Air and Medview.

Meanwhile, 5,286 pilgrims of Kaduna State are also among those so far returned home after performing this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Yunusa Abdullahi, spokesperson of the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, KDSMPWB, in a statement, Monday in Makkah, said the12th batch of Kaduna airlift with 449 pilgrims landed at Kaduna International Airport Kaduna Monday morning via Med-view airline.

He said the return journey of Kaduna State pilgrims is expected to be completed this week.

“Only 1,427 pilgrims remain in Saudi Arabia out of the 6,713 pilgrims that performed hajj from Kaduna State this year,” Mr. Abdullahi added.

According to information earlier released by NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre at Jeddah International Airport Office, Medview flight MEV202 had departed Jeddah to Kaduna at 01:01hours with 449 Pilgrims, three Enugu pilgrims and six Officials.

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