Hajj 2022: NAHCON apologizes over ‘inconveniences’ to intending pilgrims, Nigerian government
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has apologized to all intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj who could not be airlifted to Saudi Arabia despite assurances.
The commission said it owes “deep and unreserved” regrets to entire intending pilgrims to 2022 Hajj for the hardships and disappointments experienced during outbound airlift operations to the holy land.
The Commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara also offers similar apologies to the federal government of Nigeria, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Private Tour Operators, and the general public for any “embarrassment the situation of the past few weeks might have caused”.
It said that despite all it’s efforts to airlift all Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj, “NAHCON was incapacitated in discharging this responsibility fully, majorly due to last minute setbacks that frustrated its plan to conclude airlift of pilgrims by 27th June of this year”.
NAHCON had on two occasions assured that all registered pilgrims would be airlifted because it has put in place measures to carry out rescue operation to ferry them to Saudi Arabia.
Unfortunately, Mrs Usara said “the chartered flights option that gave so much hope to NAHCON and the Private Tour Operators’ leadership also became a failure as their IBAN accounts failed accreditation by the respective authorities in Saudi Arabia”.
Those left behind
NAHCON also announced that about 1550 registered pilgrims could not be airlifted before the closure of Saudi airspace.
“Specifically, the following numbers of affected pilgrims would not make it to Saudi Arabia before closure of Jeddah airport, hence they are sadly bound to miss this year’s Hajj.
“They are: Nine (9) pilgrims from Bauchi state; 91 pilgrims from Plateau state; 700 pilgrims from Kano state and an estimated 750 pilgrims from the Private Tour Operators sector,” NAHCON said.
The Commission also assured that all affected pilgrims will be refunded their Hajj fares while it will work towards improving its deficiencies against next time.
“NAHCON has learnt a lot of lessons and is determined not to have a repetition of the unfortunate situation.
“Management knows that no number of apologies could pay for the disappointments some Muslim faithful are currently experiencing as a result,” it said.
