First batch of Nigeria Hajj pilgrims arrive on Sunday

The first batch of 1000 Nigerian pilgrims to this year's hajj will arrive Nigeria on Sunday.

Bayo Yusuf, a  national commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Saturday.

Mr. Yusuf listed the pilgrims from Borno, Kwara, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states as the beneficiaries of the two return flights to Nigeria on Sunday.

He said the affected pilgrims were those who were transported in the inaugural flights from Nigeria on Sept. 14 to Saudi Arabia.

The Commissioner said following the completion of Hajj rites on Friday, the Commission had perfected all plans to return the pilgrims back to Nigeria.

He, however, said the principle of first to come first to go would be applied for all the pilgrims irrespective of status.

"You will go as you come, to where you were picked from, irrespective of status. We will be fair to all our pilgrims," he said.

On luggage, he said NAHCON had set up a task force to ensure compliance with the approved 40kg per pilgrim and 8kg hand luggage for this year's Hajj.

Mr. Yusuf thanked Allah for a successful Hajj operation and hailed the pilgrims for being good ambassador of Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.

He assured that all pilgrims would be transported back to Nigeria within one month stipulated time from the inaugural return flight.

Seventy-six thousand (76,000) Nigerians, including 10,000 who travelled through private operators, performed 2013 Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.
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