An advance team of 31 officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), yesterday, departed for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, ahead of the commencement of Hajj 2023 airlift operations.
In a statement signed by Deputy Director (Information and Publications), Mousa Ubandawaki, the team, made up of 21 officials and 10 medical personnel, will be in Saudi Arabia for final preparations to receive the first set of Nigerian pilgrims.
The inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia has been scheduled for Thursday, May 25, with Nasarawa State set to produce the first batch of intending pilgrims.
Ubandawaki said: “The team is to organise and coordinate reception, accommodation, feeding and transportation, health and general welfare of pilgrims in the holy land, throughout the Hajj period, led by Deputy Director (Training), Ibrahim Idris.”
At a brief farewell ceremony, held at Hajj House before their departure to the holy land, Chairman of NAHCON, Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, described Hajj as a global issue, which aim is to establish unity among Muslims.
He, therefore, enjoined the officials to take their job seriously by identifying best methods to achieve success in their assignment.
He said: “You must be diligent, committed, vigilant and, particularly, you must have patience and act in the right manner at all times, so that at the end, you can achieve the benefits of here and the hereafter.”
Also speaking at the event, Commissioner-in-Charge of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, Nura Hassan Yakasai, described the event as an epoch.
He described the advance team as the foundation on which success of the year’s Hajj will be built.
“If it is very strong, then the rest of the structure will be solid. Therefore, I want to enjoin you to discharge your duties with utmost sense of responsibility, and I want to assure you of the Commission’s support for your team.”
