Ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration on Tuesday passengers traffic has increased drastically at the Ilorin International Airport, Pilot Aviation can report.
Our Aviation correspondent observed influx of in-bound passengers at the airport as many people from various parts of the country storm Ilorin for the Sallah celebration.
The Federal Government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays to mark the festive period.
Findings by this medium showed that outbound passengers have reduced as the celebration approaches.
Our reporter also observed from Thursday to Saturday that the arrival hall of the airport terminal building was filled with passengers who boarded both Arik Air and Overland Airways.
Overland Airways that flies the Ilorin route twice on daily basis recorded three flights schedules on Saturday.
Also, over 60 passengers arrived at the airport aboard Arik Air around 4:50pm on Friday.
Many people were seen at the airport premises waiting to receive their relatives on Saturday.
Some of the passengers who spoke to Pilot Aviation, at the weekend, confirmed that the the arrived the town ahead of the Sallah celebration.
A passenger, Mr. Nurudeen Dawuda said ” I’m based in Port Harcourt but travelled down for sallah celebration with my family.”
Another passenger, Alhaji Lanre Kadiri Dele who is based in United States of America, said it has been three years since he left the country and seized opportunity of the celebration to visit family and friends in Nigeria.
He said, ” The festive period will afford me opportunity to interact with family members, holds family meeting and to offer special prayers for the nation against the backdrop of the current security and economic situation band to lift up our people before God, especially the downtrodden – those who are struggling to make ends meet as well as the leadership.”
However, despite the increase in passenger turnout, there is no fare hike by any of the airlines plying the Ilorin route.
