All airports controlled by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, across the country have started airlifting pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj. Yakubu Dati, coordinating general manager, Aviation Parastatals, said out of the 5,708 pilgrims scheduled for this year’s Hajj operations from Kano, no fewer than five hundred and two intending pilgrims departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Wednesday September 10, 2014. He said the pilgrims went aboard Max Airlines from Kano to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj.

According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, about 15, 000 pilgrims from different parts of the country are expected to participate in this year’s exercise following the approval of their visas.
Dati said that FAAN has put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all Hajj pilgrims within and around the airport during the period of their journey. Part of the measures include the deployment of 30-seater shuttle buses by FAAN in partnership with Skyplus Contracts and Logistic Limited to ease the movement of pilgrims between the domestic and international terminals at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. He urged all pilgrims to cooperate with health officials across the airports during screening and routine checks before boarding to ensure smooth operation. FAAN also encourages all the Hajj pilgrims to remain worthy ambassadors of Nigeria when they get to the holy land.