BY Olapeju Olubi
Intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Nigerian terminals now have a cause to smile as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has upgraded various facilities for better experience.
A recent statement by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) indicated that “the preparatory timeline released by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah began earlier than usual and is expected to end before its normal timing.”
However, spokesperson for FAAN and Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah told journalists in Lagos on Monday that the country’s airport management agency will leave nothing to chance in ensuring that Nigerians travelling for the holy pilgrimage are accorded the best services at the airports.
She disclosed that FAAN is bringing new changes to how it will handle hajj operations affirming that it will work in collaboration with hajj operating airlines, cargo and ground handling companies as were as state governments and other agencies responsible for the smooth operations and airlift of pilgrims to achieve its objectives.
Speaking, Mrs. Obiageli said “We are bringing a lot of changes to how we handle hajj operations in our airports ranging from the queue that pilgrims experience in the past in our airports as they are going to hajj and having to queue up for a long time, conveying their properties and the services render them, all those delays, we are bringing in a new system that will create an ease of movement for both the passengers and the goods.”
She disclosed that “There are a quite a lot of changes on ground already beginning from the customer services department who are to attend to you on time and then passing the passengers quickly without wasting time because there are lot of people that need to be attended to and even the environment, we are ensuring a clean environment for the whole exercise.”
