The flight carrying 472 pilgrims from Nassarawa State and 27 officials, which is the first in this year’s Hajj, has landed at Prince Muhammad Ibn Abdu-Azeez Airport Madina at about 3:20am on Friday.
A statement by Suwaiba Ahmed of Information and Publications Unit of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Friday said the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yahya Lawal together with Consul General, Madina coordinator and his team were at the airport to receive them.
As a tradition, according to her, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the officials of Nigerian Embassy in the Kingdom, gave the pilgrims a ceremonial reception at the airport.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Yahya Lawal thanked Allah for their safe trip and urge them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria at all times especially now that they are in a state of performing one of the pillars of Islam. He also calls on them to pray for the progress and unity of Nigeria. And finally pray to Allah for them to have a Hajj mabrur.
“The pilgrims were then conveyed to their hotel accommodation where they were given another warm welcome by the hotel managers.
“On their part, the pilgrims thanked Allah SWT for making it a reality for them and also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Hajj Officials,” the statement reads.
