The inaugural Hajj flight on Sunday took off to Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj.
The Arabian airliner, Flynas, which carried the Federal Capital Territory pilgrims, took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 3:15 pm.
The official flag off ceremony was carried out by the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mohammed Bello.
Mr Osinbajo called urged the pilgrims to pray for the country and be good ambassadors of the nation.
“You represent the largest, single group of Nigerians leaving the shores of the country within a specific time.
“You are all ambassadors of this great country, you should, therefore, conduct yourself with the fear of Allah.
“Please pray for our country, our leaders, our dear president so that he can come back safely to continue to steer the country,” he said.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of National Hajj Commission if Nigeria, NAHCON, Abdullahi Mukhtar, said about 79,000 pilgrims are so far registered to participate in the hajj exercise.
Of the number, he said 60,000 are from the 36 states, FCT and the armed forces, while over 19,000 are registered by Independent Tour Operators.
He said the number is unprecedented going by the global economic crunch including Nigeria.
The NAHCON chairman said about 25 per cent of officials from the commission and outside have decided to sacrifice their hajj and just work for the pilgrims.
He said the decision is “in tune with the change agenda of the present administration” and called on the pilgrims to take advantage of this sacrifice by calling on the officials to serve them adequately.
He, however, appealed that “officials are also human beings and can make mistakes, when that happens please forgive and pardon our shortcomings and cooperate with us because we are all representing Nigeria.”
Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, in an address on his behalf by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, said only those enabled by God will perform hajj.
