NAN-H-68
Pilgrims
Sokoto, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, the Zonal Coordinator, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), said 5,000 pilgrims from Sokoto and Zamfara states have so far returned through Sultan Abubakar 111 International Airport, Sokoto.
He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Friday.
He said that the pilgrims were transported on 10 flights by Max Airline.
Kaoje explained that of the figure, 3,000 pilgrims from Zamfara were transported in six flights, while 2,000 from Sokoto State were transported in four flights.
He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the pilgrims during the screening exercise at the customs and immigration service.
Also, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, said 2,049 pilgrims from the state have so far been transported back home after performing the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
He told NAN on Friday that the pilgrims were transported to the country by Max Airline in four flights.
According to him, the fifth flight, with 500 pilgrims, will depart the King Abdul’aziz International Airport, Jeddah later on Friday, expected to arrive the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Nigerian time.
He said all the pilgrims would collect their luggage on arrival in Kano as agreed by the board’s officials and management of the airline.
Badamasi expressed the hope that the transportation of the pilgrims back home would be completed within the next 10 days.
He commended the airline for its commitment for keeping to the flight schedules.
He added that “if the transportation of pilgrims to Nigeria continues the way it is going now, we are confident that it will be completed in the next 10 days.”
NAN reports that 5,808 pilgrims from Kano State performed this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. (NAN)
Reporters/DO/IS/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)