About 614 intending pilgrims from Kaduna State have not been airlifted even as the July 5 deadline issued by the Saudi Arabian government draws closer.
So far, 1,986 intending pilgrims have departed the state for the holy land with the fifth flight leaving the Kaduna International Airport Saturday night.
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The state was initially given 2,491 slots before the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) jerked the figure to 2,600.
Daily Trust however gathered from the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency that pilgrims from 18 out of the state’s 23 LGA’s had been airlifted with the state hoping to airlift the remaining 614 before Tuesday.
The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Malam Salisu Anchau, confirmed that there were visa challenges for some of the pilgrims but said NAHCOM which had earlier closed the visa portal had assured the agency that it would open it.
He, however, said the portal had yet to be opened at the time of filing this report.
