About 517 pilgrims were yesterday airlifted from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos to Saudi Arabia.
This signified the commencement of this year's Hajj exercise.
The pilgrims, mainly from Osun State, were airlifted by Med-View Airlines.
Speaking with journalists at the Hajj Camp of the MMIA, the Managing Director, Med-View Air carrier, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said the airline, which is designated to airlift 5,500 pilgrims from different departure points for this year's Hajj exercise, would operate as scheduled.
Bankole said the airline would airlift pilgrims from three zones – Lagos, Ilorin and Port Harcourt.
He added that the intending pilgrims had been counselled by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the National Commission.
Med-View is expected to operate about 18 flights from Lagos zone alone.
Bankole said the carrier would operate Boeing 747-400 aircraft configured to accommodate 517 passengers and B767-300 for the exercise.
He said: "The stage has been set and we are ready for the exercise and we pray to Allah to grant us a safe journey to and from Saudi Arabia.
"We are using B747 with the configuration for 517 people. In all the zones that we are operating, we will be using two aircraft, which have been on ground for sometime now.
"We have about 18 flights out of Lagos zone alone and we hope to finish as scheduled. Talking on the hitchfree exercise, we have been carrying out this exercise for the past 30 years. This is our 30th year in the sky as hajj operator. I've done hajj 30 times. That shows you we are the grandmaster in this game. That is a record no one can beat."
Some of the pilgrims expressed delight over their participation in this year's Hajj.
One of them, Alhaja Idayatu Salau, said she would use the opportunity to move closer to God and pray for peace and adequate security in the country.
National Mirror