Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Muhammad Bello, has said that the Federal Government would commence the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in the first week of November.

Bello said this at the weekend, when officials of NAHCON visited the FCT Minister in his office. He said the commission would encourage other states to emulate the FCT in organising pre-Hajj workshop for their intending pilgrims. He commended the minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, for the interest he has been showing in the affairs of the commission. Bello appealed to the FCT Administration to assist the commission in making adequate provision in its Hajj Camp in Abuja to host pilgrims from the South-South and South-East parts of the country until the Port Harcourt International Airport is ready for their airlift in the subsequent years.