FG urged to deepen pilgrims’ care as Medview airlifts 20,000 from 18 states

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As of Tuesday, August 22, a total of 1,253,759 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom through airports, seaports and land crossings. Yearly, the exercise attracts over 2million Muslims across the globe. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH

Aviation expert and Managing Director of Medview Nigeria, Alhaji Muneer Bankole has called on the Federal Government not to abandon Nigerian pilgrims who are currently performing the 2017 hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia, saying that thousands of pilgrims will need the nation’s care and support during and after the spiritual exercise.

The airline operator also said that Medview will be airlifting 20,000 pilgrims to the Saudi Arabia for the 2017 hajj exercise, said that ZamZam water for some of its pilgrims had already been delivered by the airline, even before the pilgrims depart for Saudi Arabia. Airlifting for the inbound journey ends tomorrow, August 26, 2017 as the real hajj rites will begin on Wednesday, August 30.

As of Tuesday, August 22, a total of 1,253,759 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom through airports, seaports and land crossings. Yearly, the exercise attracts over 2million Muslims across the globe. A total of 79000 pilgrims from Nigeria are partaking in the exercise this year.

Speaking with journalists on the logistic of this year’s hajj exercise, Bankole said that the airline had engaged three aircrafts to handle the airlifting of about 20,000 pilgrims across the states in Nigeria, adding that the federal government must begin to show concern on the hajj issue to ensure safety and welfare of her citizens.

He said: “We must look beyond the spiritual exercise of the pilgrims; the Federal Government must show interest in it. They are your citizens; you must add value to the exercise to ensure that the consular officers are around always to assist to provide other welfare logistic support to the citizens of the country. It is not that they want to fulfill the Islamic obligation alone. You as the government, you have both the corporate and judicial responsibility to look at the welfare of your citizens. Pilgrimage is something that government can’t shy away from, government must show concern about it.”

Harping on the hajj operation and airlifting exercise, Bankole stated that over 20,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted from Kwara, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, and other states. He stressed that the airline is considering so many packages for the pilgrims in addition to provision of Hiram (white garment), airlifting of  ZamZam water to Nigeria to ease transportation for the pilgrims.

He said other arrangements have also being put in place to make the hajj trip memorable experience for the pilgrims, saying “One thing with Medview is that logistic is working for us. You know the day of your arrival and your departure. We never fail you. Secondly, we never leave our pilgrims anytime. We pay them visit all the times and help them to carry their luggage. It will interest you to know that the entire Lagos pilgrims will be given their ZamZam water, even before they go to Saudi Arabia.

“We have delivered the water to the state pilgrims’ board. And we are doing this, virtually in all the southwest states. We have brought over 6,800 Zamzam water so far. That is one of our logistics. Rather than leaving Saudi Arabia with water, the water is here already. We are also giving them free Hijab, Hiram and for those who know, these are the things that differentiate Medview Airline.”

The Managing Director recalled that the pilgrims airlifted outside the country by the airline outnumber those from Nigeria, adding that the management of Medview airline would remain committed to fulfilling its obligations to Nigerians always.