Hajj 2023: NAHCON assures Saudi agency of smooth airlifting
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia of smooth airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s Hajj operations.
The commission gave the commitment during a visit to the GACA head office yesterday.
Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, while expressing his appreciation to the authority for support during last year’s Hajj, restated his commitment to make this year’s Hajj a smooth and easy one.
Alhaji Hassan said: “Let me put on record my profound gratitude to the authority for understanding and support during last year’s Hajj and to assure you that with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) very early, we will do everything to ensure this year’s Hajj record a resounding success.”We are ready to organise an excellent and successful Hajj. We are indeed committed to achieving that. Now that we have ample time and opportunities to plan and diligently screened the airlines, there won’t be room for complaints and excuses.”
GACA’s General Manager on Hajj Operations, Nazim Pazhair, an Engineer hailed NAHCON for its commitment to uplifting the welfare and service delivery to the Nigerian pilgrims.
“We value the role of NAHCON in Hajj management and we are happy that Nigeria has gotten back its allocation of 95,000. We hope that the commission will quickly conclude the screening procedure so that we can begin the preparation of slots and schedule for the airlines. We are looking forward to a better working relationship during the Hajj operations,” Pazhair, said.
He, however emphasized the need for the two organisations to collaborate with a view to making this year’s Hajj successful, adding “we have obligations to pilgrims all over the world and we want all of them to perform Hajj with ease and comfort. It is therefore important for both of us to work with unity of purpose so that the pilgrims can obtain Hajj Mabrur.”
Those on the entourage of the Chairman’s visit included the Nigeria Consul-General to Saudi Arabia, Amb Mansur Abdulkareem, the Commissioners in Charge of Operations Licensing and Inspectorate, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, Policy Personnel Management and Finance Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, Commissioner Planning Research Statistics Information and Library Services PRSILS Sheikh Suleman Momoh, representatives of the Forum of Chairmen/Secretaries, President of AHUON, Alhaji Yahaya Nasidi and the Secretary of the Commission, Dr Abdullah Kotangora.
