It has been assured that all intending pilgrims who are still in Nigeria and other countries will be transported to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj activities.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, said this on Wednesday in Makkah.

According to Hassan, the Saudi Arabian authorities had extended the time allotted to Nigeria and other countries with transportation issues from the earlier two days to 24 hours.

He said, “It is our wish that no Nigerian intending pilgrim is left at home and we made several efforts to ensure this. Luckily, the Saudi authorities have further extended the date for the closure of their airspace.

“With this extension, the remaining 5,000 pilgrims will be able to perform their Hajj. Over 1,000 pilgrims are on their way today (Wednesday). This is out of the 42,000 that registered for the 2022 Hajj.

“These two windows; of extension of date of closure and engagement of chartered aircraft, will ensure that all pilgrims realize their dream of performing this religious act.”

The initial difficulties, he said, were brought on by flight delays and cancellations brought on by states’ lack of readiness.

The majority of the delays in the number of flights that have left Nigeria thus far, according to Hassan, were caused by the delays.

Hassan described the incident between him and a state Hajj official before arriving in Makkah as a justifiable act.

“I understand with the Niger State pilgrims official who was concerned about his pilgrims that are still in Nigeria. But like I explained to him, I have a responsibility to the other large number of pilgrims already in Saudi Arabia just as those in Nigeria.

“That was why I left behind the Commissioners for Operations, Head of Aviation, Special Duties, and others to continue. Luckily, the extension of airspace came as we arrived,” he said.