Maiduguri — The inaugural airlift of intending pilgrims for this year's hajj from Borno and Yobe States which was earlier scheduled to commence yesterday is to begin tomorrow due to technical problems, the head of operations of Maiduguri zonal office of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON ) said yesterday.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri, Aliyu Yusuf disclosed that although proper arrangements for the inaugural airlift had been completed, the national headquarters of NAHCON announced the suspension as the airlines contracted for the operation were expected to arrive Nigeria yesterday to under go technical screening.

The airlines, Yusuf said, are Air Niamey and IRS Airline which are jointly expected convey 3,080 pilgrims and officials from Borno and Yobe States from the Maiduguri International Airport.

He assured that the change of date would not affect the smooth airlift of pilgrims as modalities had been worked out for the two states to rotate the flight to facilitate speedy completion of the airlift.