In light of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s inability to secure proposed slots for Nigerian intending pilgrims to this year’s hajj, the Lagos State Government has stated that it has airlifted 1,598 passengers.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Anofi Elegushi, made the announcement on Tuesday during a news conference in Lagos.
Elegushi further remarked that the Lagos State Government would expeditiously make the complete refund procedure available to would-be pilgrims seeking a refund.
He said, “You will recall that the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow any airlifting of pilgrims since 2020. This gave rise to an increase in the backlog of intending pilgrims since then.
“However, when the Saudi Arabia authorities gave the go-ahead for pilgrims to be airlifted this year 2022, we had over 4,000 intending pilgrims that have registered with the state.
“A total number of 1,562 slots were allocated to Lagos State by NAHCON and these were used up immediately by the state-contingent. A further 250 slots were given by NAHCON based on the expectation of additional 5,000 slots promised by the Saudi authorities, unfortunately, the Saudi authorities declined the 5,000 slots while we had gone ahead to allocate the 250 slots awaiting final processing and Visa from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“It is however regrettable to note that the 5,000 slots promised were declined by the Saudi authorities, thereby placing us in this precarious situation in which we find ourselves in Lagos State. We are aware that this matter affects every nation of the world that has intending pilgrims but the reactions and the need to make things clear have necessitated this address.
