Hajj: Delayed Flight Blamed On Congestion In Madinah

The delay in the airlift of the last batch of intending pilgrims from Kwara State to Saudi Arabia has been attributed to the congestion of pilgrims in Madinah.

An official of the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, told LEADERSHIP that there are more pilgrims in Madinah waiting to be transported to Makkah.

He said the Saudi Arabian authority would not allow new entrants into Madinah until the pilgrims who are presently in that holy city are moved to Makkah.

He, however, said that the remaining Kwara pilgrims have arrived at the Ilorin airport and would be airlifted yesterday ( Wednesday).

When contacted, the chairman of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Prof Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, who regretted the slight delay in the airlifting of the last batch of pilgrims, said they were only called to the Hajj Camp on Monday, being the date for the last flight from Ilorin.

” The slight delay in the airlift of the last batch of pilgrims from Ilorin airport was due to the congestion of pilgrims in Madinah. The Saudi Arabia authority needs some space to transport the pilgrims who are already in Madinah to Makkah before other pilgrims can come in. Saved for this last batch, we have enjoyed seamless flight in Ilorin,” he said.

Mahmud – Jimba said the pilgrims were asked to report at the Hajj camp on Monday with the hope that they would have their flight on the same day.

” But as I speak with you, all the pilgrims and officials are at the airport waiting for the Max aircraft that would take us to Saudi Arabia any mom