Med-View Airline, one of Nigeria’s carriers and also flag carrier for the 2016 Hajj operations, has airlifted over 10,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in less than two weeks.
A breakdown of the figure indicates that over 9,500 were airlifted from Nigeria and 1,000 were airlifted from another West African country, Mali since August 8, when it commenced the airlift.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, made this known on Sunday during the annual Hajj seminar for international hajj pilgrims going through Med-View Travels Konsult at the airline’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.
Bankole, who gave further breakdown of the airlift stated that over 6,000 pilgrims were airlifted from Lagos zone comprising Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Edo and members of the Armed Forces while about 3,000 were airlifted from Kaduna State.
He said the airlift of pilgrims from the South-East would commence in earnest, adding that so far the flights have been smooth because it has been ordained by God Almighty.
Bankole, who explained that Med-View Travels Konsult has been known for Hajj operations without tears, stressing said the airline had put in place different teams including the welfare, medical, among others to render assistance to the pilgrims.
The Managing Director who recalled the stampede incidence of last year where many pilgrims lost their lives in the Holy land, said that the Saudi authorities had put in place arrangements to forestall a recurrence.
He stated that the Saudi authorities had learnt their lessons and realised their challenges, which are security and logistics, adding they have fixed all the loopholes.