Niger’s Interior and Religious Affairs Minister Bazoum Mohamed went to the airport to wish the pilgrims a good Hajj on behalf of the country’s highest authorities.
The first flight has eased anxiety among those planing to go to Saudi Arabia, especially over the recurrent problem of transportation.
Most of this year’s Hajj candidates had started despairing after their trips which were initially scheduled for Aug. 15 were postponed to Aug. 20, over what authorities termed as “technical reasons.”
Anxiety heightened after the two companies chosen by the Nigerien government to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year, namely Max Air of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia’s Flynas, faced serious problems at the last minute.
The Nigerian company, Max Air, did not get authorization to airlift passengers from Hamani Diori International Airport in Niamey, whereas the second company, Saudi Arabia’s Flynas which was supposed to transport about 6,000 pilgrims, complained of high taxes in Niamey and demanded an increase of 50,000 CFA Francs (85 U.S. dollars) on each air ticket, a source said.
Finally, it was agreed that the Saudi Arabian company would transport all the pilgrims. The company is expected to make 26 trips by Sept. 6, the date when Saudi Arabia will close its borders. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/News Ghana
