472 Nigerian Pilgrims, Others Move To Makkah

A total of 472 Nigerian pilgrims and others from various countries left Madinah this Friday morning for the holy sites in Makkah to perform the Hajj rituals.

LEADERSHIP witnessed scenes of buses transporting pilgrims from the Miqat, a principal boundary where pilgrims intending to perform the Ḥajj or Umrah enter the state of iḥrām, in Madinah under the supervision of the visiting Hajj committees and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah officials.

Among the 472 pilgrims were those from Nasarawa State, who were airlifted from Nigeria on the inaugural flight operated by Max Air Limited on May 25 to Medinah.

The pilgrims while in Medinah performed the traditional rites of praying at the Prophet Mosque and made visitations to many Islamic landmarks and historical sites including the battlefield of Uhud.

Pilgrims Transport buses offered comprehensive services as part of an accurate action program that aims at facilitating the transport of pilgrims to their hotels in Makkah in accordance with the contract signed with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Before heading for Makkah, a pilgrim who spoke to LEADERSHIP, Hassan Isiaka, from Nasarawa State, expressed satisfaction with the healthcare, catering and accommodation services provided for them in Madinah by the NAHCON.

“Though, I have not had any health challenge here in Medinah but some of my colleagues who had one challenge or the other said the medical team took good care of them. The accommodation and feeding were fantastic, and I pray they would continue like that in Makkah,” Isiaka told LEADERSHIP in Saudia Arabia.