From KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja & UMORU IBRAHIM in Kano
A TOTAL of 1,490 Nigerians pilgrims were yesterday
airlifted from Abuja and Sokoto International airports to Saudi Arabia to
perform 2005 Hajj exercise.
The first flight took off with 490 pilgrims, from Sir
Abubakar International Airport Sokoto at exactly 3:39pm while the second
flight of about 480 pilgrims left Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja
at around 5:19pm.
Speaking to the press, the Deputy National Chairman Hajj
Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, who spoke to the press, explained that a
total of 6,700 pilgrims are expected to be airlifted to the Holy land in
three weeks.
He, however, explained that the pilgrims were airlifted
by Kabo Air from Abuja, Kano and Sokoto, adding that today, the same air
career will begin air lifting of pilgrims from Ilorin airport.
Alhaji Sadiq who re-affirmed their commitment to a
successful Hajj operation, further assured that the exercise would be
completed according to schedule.
The deputy chairman who explained that they are not
anticipating bad weather this time around, urged Nigerian pilgrims to turn
out on time to ensure completion of the airlift without hitch.
Our correspondent reports that the pilgrims were hale and
hearty and were in a good mood.
Meanwhile, airlift of intending pilgrims from Kano zone
also commenced yesterday through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,
MAKIA.
According to Alhaji Baffa Chinade of the Directorate of
Pilgrims Welfare, two flights of pilgrims from Bauchi state were expected
before this morning.
Our correspondent who was at the airport yesterday night,
reports that everything is being put in place for the departure of the first
batch of the pilgrims being handled by Kabo Air.
At about 730pm, about 1,000 pilgrims all of them from
Bauchi state had reported at the airport ready to be airlifted, while
officials of the pilgrims board and Kabo Air were seen getting ready for the
operation.
According to the General Manager Operations of Kabo Air,
Captain Ibrahim Dili, the airline had since commenced Hajj operations in
other zones due to the importance attached to the exercise.
Captain Ibrahim who described his airline as specialist
in airline operations, said the airline�s management had positioned four
boeing 747 aircraft to facilitate the operation even though three airline
could conveniently accomplish the mission without problems.
He told journalists that though the official date for the
completion of the airlift was put at January 14, 2005, the airline is ready
to complete operations on January 11 which three days ahead of schedule.
On the part of Directorate of Pilgrims, Alhaji Chinade, who spoke with
pressmen as he put finishing touches to departure arrangement, said no
problems had been encountered in the arrangement so far. �So far it has been
smooth,� he stressed.
