Some veteran Hajj officials in Kaduna state have highlighted the previous efforts made by the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency to facilitate the airlift of Umrah pilgrims through Kaduna International Airport.
The two experienced Hajj operations field officials, Alh Aminu Ibrahim and Danlamin Shuaibu shared their experience to Hajj Reporters while reacting to a story published in by this medium on Kaduna pilgrim’s agency’s plans to commence airlift of Umrah pilgrims through the Kaduna airport.
According to Alh Aminu Ibrahim, contrary to the report, this is not the first time that Umrah Pilgrims would be airlifted through Kaduna International Airport.
He recalled that “in 2009 and 2010 under the able leadership of Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad then the Executive Secretary of the board, Umrah Pilgrims were Airlifted to the Holy land through Kaduna airport,”
He added however that, the operation could not continue due to the appointment of Mohammed as the commissioner in charge of operations at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Alh Aminu further stated that the inability of the subsequent heads of the board to continue with the programme halted the efforts. He however, welcomed the latest efforts and prays for a successful Umrah operations.
In his contribution, Danlami Shuaibu said Imam Tsoho Ikara, who served as an overseer of the board also ran Umrah operations.
He said the operation was supervised by Engr Namadi Musa, the Kaduna State DG for Interfaith.
He said Umrah was organised during the holy month of Ramadan “and Medview Airline airlifted the Umrah pilgrims from Kaduna Airport in 5 flights in 2017”.
“In the same year and 2018, under an agreement with the government and the State Pilgrims Board, Medview Airlines commenced the airlift of Umrah passengers from Kaduna State.
“It lasted for 4 weeks but stopped because of lack of patronage. It was almost at the same time that the airline opened the Dubai route from Kaduna,” he said.
Danlamin added that Max Airline also airlifted Umrah passengers from Kaduna International airport in 2016.
