Hajj 2023: NAHCON Resolves Logjam Delaying Nigeria – bound Flights

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Tuesday announced that it has resolved issues delaying the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims back to the country after the conclusion of this year’s Hajj exercise.

PRNIGERIA reports that a lot of Nigerian pilgrims have been restless for days as the movement back to the country has been skeletal so far.

At the time of filing this report, only 29 flights have gone out so far carrying 11,416 pilgrims back to Nigeria.

According to a statement by NAHCON’s Deputy Director in charge of Information and Publication, Mousa Ubandawaki, the Commission and Saudi authorities have now resolved the issues and Nigerian carriers can now operate optimally from Wednesday.

This was the outcome of a meeting between NAHCON and the Saudi authorities, General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) on the slow pace of the airlift operations.

“With the situation, Max Airline with three aircrafts on its fleet will be able to operate all the aircrafts to Nigeria everyday, same with Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Azman and Arik Air which is dedicated to the airlift of private tour operators.

“It will also increase the pace of the airlift operation which has been bogged down by non-availability of slots to the Nigerian licensed carriers especially by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority,” the statement read in part.

The GACA had earlier refused to give slots to the Nigerian airlines to speed up the return of pilgrims.