Ahead of the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON) has charged the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to put in place necessary facilities at the country‘s Hajj departure zone to ensure seamless airlift operations.
The acting chairman of the commission, Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi, gave the charge when members of FAAN‘s Hajj Committee paid him a courtesy visit at Hajj House in Abuja.
He said the provision of necessary navigation equipment and facilities at Hajj departure centres across the country would facilitate a seamless Hajj Airlift.
„You are a formidable partner in the Hajj operation. Though, there are certain considerations put in place during Hajj airlift and we expect you to tell us the state of the various airports used for Hajj airlift,“ he said.
According to Arabi in a press statement signed by the deputy director of information and publication, NAHCON, Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, the committee should be time conscious as they would have limited time to carry out their assignments, going by the time line set by Saudi Arabia for all nations to conclude all Hajj arrangements early.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation, who also is the director Airport Operations, Captain Mukhtar Yusuf Muye, said the authority has commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj about two months ago to ensure a hitch free operation.
He assured that the exercise would be complete before the commencement of Hajj airlift in the 16 departure Airports across the country.