Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has so far transported 13, 107 Nigerian pilgrims in 27 flights to Saudi Arabia for the 2019 hajj exercise. This was contained in a statement released by the Command and Control Centre of the commission yesterday.
According to the statement, pilgrims from Katsina, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Birnin Kebbi, Sokoto, Kogi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Osun, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been airlifted to the holy hand.The Guardian learnt that the first batch of pilgrims who had arrived the holy land have commenced movement from Madinah to Makkah in continuation of their religious rites. 65,000 Nigerians are expected to perform this year’s hajj exercise and a total of 350 medical personnel have been deployed to attend to pilgrims’ healthcare need during the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa has charged intending pilgrims to use the opportunity provided by the Hajj to pray for the country. Ohaa made the plea yesterday in his address to the intending pilgrims at the FCT Permanent Hajj camp at Bassan Jiwa, Abuja.
This was contained in a statement yesterday signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye in Abuja.He charged the pilgrims to be of exemplary conduct and consider the assignment as a trust from God, adding, “I enjoin you to discharge your duties diligently and assist the intending pilgrims to attain an acceptable Hajj as only God can adequately reward you for your duties.”
Earlier, the Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Mallam Muhammad Bashir revealed that a total of 2,220 pilgrims would be airlifted from the FCT to Saudi Arabia this year.
