The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Thursday that Nigerian pilgrims will on Friday begin movement to Makkah from Madina where they have been staying since their arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A NAHCON spokesperson currently station in Madina, Suwaiba Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement.
She recalled that “The 472 pilgrims from Nassarawa State were the first batch of Pilgrims to have been airlifted from Nigeria on the Inaugural Flight operated by Max Air Limited on 25th May at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.”
She added that the contingent was received into the Kingdom at a symbolic ceremony organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and was attended by the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency, Amb. Yahaya Lawal, the Consul-General and other members of the Diplomatic Corps.
“Since their arrival in Madina, the contingent had performed the traditional rites of praying at the Haramain Mosque and made visitations to many Islamic Landmarks and historical sites including the battlefield of Uhud,” she stated.
It would be recalled that the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims were sent forth with admonition by the former president Muhammadu Buhari to shun any act capable of tarnishing the image of the country and to be good ambassadors of the nation. They were also enjoined to pray for the peace, progress and stability of the Nation during their sojourn in the Holy land.
The Chairman/CEO, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan also promised to make their stay in the Holy land a memorable one with provision of quality accommodation, transportation and feeding with local Nigerian dishes.
So far about 14,000 Nigerian pilgrims have been airlifted to the Holy land with all of them landing or heading to Madina in the first phase of the operation.
