Hundreds of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia were stranded yesterday at the Muhammad Murtala International Airport(MMIA) Lagos, as the indigenous carrier, Arik Air failed to provide aircraft to airlift them to the Holy Land.
The affected intending pilgrims were those scheduled to be carried by the private tour operators under the aegis of Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON).
Some of the tour operators had booked Arik Air, one of the airlines approved by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land.
But as the travellers came to the airport as scheduled, the airline did not provide aircraft and out of anger, the pilgrims started protesting against the delayed airlift.
The would-be pilgrims protested both at the international wing of the airport and at the airline’s head office at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the domestic wing of the airport.
Arik Air was allocated pilgrims from AHUON and the airline was to airlift pilgrims from Lagos, Kano and Abuja zones.
The delay due to non-availability of aircraft has stirred fears that most of the affected pilgrims might miss the Hajj as the deadline for the arrival of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia draws near.
The deadline would be marked by the closure of the Saudi Arabia airspace.
By noon yesterday hundreds of the pilgrims were still stranded at the MMIA where they have been sleeping for the past four days, awaiting their airlift.
One of the pilgrims told journalists that some of them who were to be airlifted since June 14 were still at the airport.
They have been sleeping in the Mosques and other open places around the international airport and the airport facilities are said to be overstretched with the departure hall crowded.
In a statement by its Public Relations and Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola, Arik Air said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria selected it as the carrier to work with the tour operators for this year’s hajj exercise.
The airline disclosed that the airline was allocated about 10,000 pilgrims spread across Abuja, Lagos and Kano.
The airline observed: “We commenced the airlift of pilgrims in both Abuja and Lagos on Wednesday, June 14 and we have carried 374 passengers to date.
“The issues involved in the smooth operation of the airlift are currently being addressed by all parties involved; Arik Air, NAHCON and the Tour Operators.
“We hereby assure the pilgrims that as soon as we resolve the issues within the next 24 hours, the airlift will resume simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and Kano State.
“We appeal for the understanding of all concerned and apologise for the inconvenience the slow pace of airlift may have caused the intending pilgrims and all the parties involved.”
