The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has advised Nigerian pilgrims against carrying luggage above the statutory 40kg while returning home after the 2023 Hajj.
The Commissioner Operations of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa made the warning at post Arafah meeting, held on Sunday in Makkah.
He restated NAHCON’s resolve to ensure that pilgrims abided fully by its luggage policy, during their return journey to Nigeria.
Hardawa lamented that last year, there was a breach of the policy, adding however that this year such breaches would not be tolerated, so as to have a seamless operation.
The Commissioner said over the years, NAHCON had evolved three window approach to luggage handling, comprising the hand luggage of 8kg, the 32kg luggage and the excess luggage windows, noting that the decision is all in an effort to ease pilgrims’ movement and easy luggage handling at the airports.
He however decried the attitude of some pilgrims, particularly the female who go to the airport with multiple bags under the guise of hand luggage.
He therefore called on state pilgrims officials to inform their pilgrims about this position to avoid any inconveniences and unnecessary delays at the airport, calling for cooperation and understanding by all.
Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa stated that the airline operators had bitterly complained about this untoward behaviour of some pilgrims, which put lives of those aboard the aircraft at risk.
” this time around it would not be business as usual, and for fear of loosing some valuables at the airport, the pilgrims should abide by the forty kilograms policy, or they should avail themselves with the cargo window,” he warned.
