NIGERIA TRANSPORTS 18,909 PILGRIMS TO SAUDI ARABIA

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Saturday said it had transported 18,909 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 pilgrimage.
About 76,000 intending pilgrims from the 36 states and Abuja are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Uba Mana, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the airlift had been hitch free since it began on August 23.
He said the commission had so far recorded 49 flights of pilgrims mostly from Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Zamfara and Kogi.

The director also said most of the pilgrims were airlifted direct to Medina, where they were expected to spend seven days before proceeding to Mecca, while others were transported to Jedda.
“Buses are readily available at Jedda International Airport to transport pilgrims to Medina.
“Those airlifted to medina on August 23, will move to Mecca on August 29.’’
Mr. Mana said the airlift would be concluded on September 15, adding, “no pilgrim will be left behind.”