The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has announced a plan to send a revised ratio of pilgrims for hajj 2022 to each participating country.
This came on the heels of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) who hailed the Saudi Arabian authorities for lifting the ban on direct flights from Nigeria into the kingdom.
It said yesterday that the lifting of the ban was a brave move despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the kingdom had restricted the annual spiritual activities to citizens and residents within the Kingdom as part of measures to prevent the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
Following that, it placed a ban on direct flights from Nigeria and 16 other countries on December 8, 2021, due to the Omicron variant of the Covid- 19.
NAHCON in a statement signed by its Head, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Umar, said: “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) received the pleasant news of the uplifting of direct travel ban into Saudi Arabia effective from the 5th of March, 2022.
“This came via a circular released by General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). In addition, a near-total cancellation of Covid-19 restrictions was announced indicative of a return to regularity.”
