Stranded Muslim Pilgrims: Flights To Saudi Arabia Turned Back Amid Strike

Stranded Muslim Pilgrims: Flights To Saudi Arabia Turned Back Amid Strike

In a dramatic twist of events, multiple aircraft bound to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage were compelled to return empty to the Arabian peninsula due to an ongoing strike by organized labor…….. CONTINUE READING

The strike, which commenced on Monday, has already created disorder and interrupted the travel arrangements of numerous Muslim pilgrims.

Reports indicate that aviation workers on strike at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, Yola International Airport, Aminu Kano International Airport, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja obstructed the paths of the planes and refused to allow them to depart with passengers, resulting in the pilots returning the aircraft to Saudi Arabia empty-handed.

More than 60,000 Nigerian pilgrims are presently stranded in Nigeria, unable to journey to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.These pilgrims, who have diligently prepared for months for this sacred expedition, are now confronted with uncertainty and frustration due to the ongoing strike.

Responding to this situation, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), stated: “We urge the organized labor to take into account the predicament of thousands of Nigerian Muslims who are currently stranded due to the ongoing strike.

“We implore the NLC/TUC to halt the strike immediately, allowing these pilgrims to proceed to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.

“The ongoing strike is causing chaos and hardship for Muslim faithfuls preparing for the Id al-Kabiir festival, and it also poses a threat to the lives of Muslim pilgrims.

We beseech the NLC to consider the repercussions of their actions on these innocent citizens.

“If the strike persists, we call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and declare a state of emergency to alleviate the country from this predicament.

We believe that prompt resolution is imperative to prevent further distress and suffering for the pilgrims and the nation as a whole.“