1,079 of the 1,083 pilgrims performing this year’s hajj through the Oyo State Pilgrim’s Welfare Board has arrived Madinah, Saudi Arabia, OYOINSIGHT.COM can report.
This newspaper gathered that Oyo State, working with Max Air, has transported 1,079 pilgrims across two successful operations from Lagos.
This figure represents a significant fraction of the total number of Nigerian pilgrims that have landed in Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj.
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), a total of 7,263 pilgrims in a total of 16 flights to the Holy Land from different departure centres as of 7:16pm today.
The inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj operation took off at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, the Imo State capital, last Friday with eight pilgrims from Abia State and 232 from Imo
The Air Peace flight has since been followed by other flights operated by all the approved airliners for this year’s operation, Max Air, UMZA and FlyNas.
On the opening day of the outboard operation, the commission transported a total of 1, 622 pilgrims from Nigeria directly to Madinah.
All 7,263 Nigerian pilgrims already conveyed to Saudi Arabia were flown to the Prince Mohammed bin AbdulAziz International Airport in Madinah, where they are expected to spend a few days before being conveyed by road to Makkah ahead of the commencement of this year’s Hajj.
Speaking at the official flag off of this year’s airlift operation, the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, urged the Nigeria contingent to this year’s Hajj to be good ambassador of the country in the Holy Land.
Recall that OYOINSIGHT.COM had earlier reported that the state’s pilgrim’s welfare board says it has secured befitting accommodations for all the intending pilgrims and made other arrangements successfully.
