A team of 52 National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) officials including medical personnel, has departed for Saudi Arabia, ahead of commencement of 2016 Hajj airlift operation.
According to a statement by coordinator, National Media Team, Mousa Ubandawaki, the advance team to 2016 Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca was made up of members of national reception team, medical team, accommodation and feeding committees.
The statement said they were going to Saudi in preparatory to receiving first batch of Nigerian pilgrims from Zamfara State who were expected to arrive Madina on Monday.
The statement added that a 30 member team would oversee airport protocol process of the pilgrims at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, (KAIA) Jeddah and Prince Mohammad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Madina and also undertake their allocation and distribution of accommodation, as well as provision of medical services and feeding arrangement.
It explained further that NAHCON’s Chairman, Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed at a briefing held before the team’s departure to Jeddah at Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja, charged the officials to always uphold vision and mission of the commission by discharging their responsibilities professionally, emphasizing need to put Nigeria’s interest and that of the pilgrims on front burner.
The statement added that their conduct would go a long way to re – enforce positive image Nigeria currently enjoy as a disciplined and responsive nation.
Meanwhile, first consignment of e-wrist band introduced by NAHCON in wake of 2015 tragic accidents in Saudi Arabia for easy identification and tracking of pilgrims had been delivered and its distribution to various state pilgrims boards would commence immediately before their departure to the holy land.
