The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has advised intending pilgrims to comply with health workers at various airports for screening over Ebola virus disease as Hajj 2014 begins.
Airlifting of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj has commenced FAAN controlled airport across the country.
On Wednesday September 10th, no fewer than 502 intending pilgrims departed from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, aboard Max Airlines Kano to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj, as part of 5,708 pilgrims scheduled for this year’s Hajj operations from Kano.
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) about 15,000 pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s exercise from different parts of the Country.
This follows the approval of their visas by the Kingdom embassy.
Yakubu Dati, coordinating general manager, Communications for Aviation Parastatals, said in a statement on Monday, that the Authority has put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all Hajj pilgrims within and around the airport during their time of travel.
“As part of this measure, 30-seater shuttle buses have been deployed by FAAN in partnership with Skyplus Contracts and Logistic Limited to ease the movement of
pilgrims between domestic to international terminal at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos,” Dati said.
He added that he Authority encourages all pilgrims to cooperate with health officials across the airports during screening and routine checks before boarding.
The Authority also urges all Hajj pilgrims to remain worthy ambassadors of Nigeria in the holy land.