Aviation

2019 Hajj: Intending pilgrims stranded at Ilorin airport 

 

By Matthew Denis

The last batch of intending Muslim  pilgrims from Ekiti and Ondo states were yesterday stranded at the Ilorin International Airport due to failure of Medview to airlift them to Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims numbering 403 were supposed to be airlifted from the airport on Saturday.
The two states and Kwara fall under the Ilorin Zone as delineated by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
Recall that the last batch of  pilgrims from Kwara State were airlifted to the holy land  last Tuesday.
Pilot Aviation gathered that the aircaft that was to convey the pilgrims developed mechanical fault.
Some of the affected pilgrims who spoke to this medium expressed frustration over the development.
Mrs. Fadilat Niniola Adekunle from Ekiti State said ” we were moved from the hajj camp to the airport on Saturday evening with the information that our flight schedule was for 11pm but we couldn’t go  and were left unattended to.
She complained that the management of the airline refused to communicate to them reason for the delay.
“The security agencies had started screening us on Sunday but it was stopped abruptly without anyone giving us explanation for it.
” We have been exposed to poor conditions here since yesterday (Saturday). We were drenched by rain as there are no tents, most of us slept outside, there are no toilets and bathrooms. And management of the airline has not shown concern over our plights.
A pilgrim from Ondo State, Mr. Sheriff Akinbode said ” it’s so unfortunate that we find ourselves in this bad condition. We have been here since yesterday (Saturday) and there is no information yet on whether we’ll leave tomorrow (Monday) morning or not.
“I have exhausted my money as nobody is feeding us here, we’re just sitting here hoping that the delay will come to an end soon. This will discourage potential pilgrims next year because of the poor arrangement,” he lamented.
When our reporter contacted staffers of Medview airline who craved anonymity, they disclosed that Max Air has been contracted for the airlifting.
In a telephone chat with our reporter,  the Manager of Max Air in charge of Ilorin zone, Alhaji Muneer Lawan said ” Med view airline consulted us  for the airlifting of the remaining pilgrims from Ilorin airport but the aircraft that is earmarked  for the schedule has a technical problem at Saudi Arabia.”
According to him, they were trying to source for an alternative airline to convey the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
When asked on the flight schedule for the stranded pilgrims,  he simply said that there is no fixed time  yet.
An official of Ondo State Muslim Pilgrims Board who craved anonymity blamed NAHCON for the poor arrangement.
” When we applied for airline and  NAHCON slotted Medview airline for us, we rejected but they insisted.”
A NAHCON official who preffered anonymity in a  chat with this medium, disclosed that the airline slotted for the airlifting of the pilgrims developed technical problem.

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