About three days to the reported closure of Saudi Arabia airspace, thousands of intending pilgrims from Nigeria are still stranded at Lagos airport.
had reported on Sunday that pilgrims going through the licensed Hajj and Umrah operators were stranded at different airports across the country.Flight delays by Arik Air affected a number of pilgrims. The airline announced on Monday it was set to airlift the pilgrims.
“This is not the first time I would be travelling for Hajj, but this year is different, I’ve been here since Tuesday and still don’t know when I will be airlifted, this is so unfair. I would not have believed it if I was told that I would still be in Nigeria by this time,” a pilgrim who gave her name as Alhaja Bilikisu, told our correspondent.
Another aggrieved pilgrim, Musa Dakoko said, “Why open one to sleep in an open space when a simple communication as to change in plans could have worked? I have always dreamed of travelling for Hajj but these people want to kill that dream for me this year. I feel very pained and frustrated.” Arik Air, which has only airlifted 300 out of about 7,000 passengers allocated to it by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, promised to resume the airlift within 24 hours, this was on Saturday when our correspondent contacted the PR & Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Transfer: Three first-team Chelsea players in talks to join Saudi Arabia clubsThree first-team Chelsea stars are in talks about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League. N'Golo Kante has already completed a move to Al-Ittihad from
Read more »
EPL: Lukaku angry with Chelsea, takes decision on Saudi Arabia transferChelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku has turned down a transfer to the Saudi Pro League and is ‘annoyed’ with the Blues over their refusal to grant him his
Read more »
JUST-IN: Saudi Arabia Announces 2023 Arafat, Eid Al Adha DatesThis means that Arafat Day falls on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 while Wednesday, June 28, will be day of Eid Al Adha.
Read more »
Transfer: Six Chelsea stars heading to Saudi Arabia revealedChelsea have made six players available to be sold to clubs in the Saudi Pro League this summer. According to talkSPORT, N’Golo Kante will certainly leave
Read more »
Be Good Ambassadors Of Nigeria, Pilgrims UrgedNigerian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia have been urged to be good ambassadors of the country during their stay in the Holy Land.
Read more »
Kaduna pilgrims agency: NAHCON failed to process visas for hajj saving scheme applicants | TheCableKaduna Pilgrims Agency says the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) failed to process visas for 108 of the state's hajj savings scheme (HSS) subscribers
Read more »