In a bid to make this year’s Hajj operations a hitch-free exercise, Nigeria’s federal government has approved three airlines as exclusive carriers of Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.
The affected airlines are Air Peace Limited, FlyNas and Max Air.
A statement issued at the weekend by the Assistant Director in charge of Public Affairs at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Fatima Sanda Usara, said the approval would enhance the efficient and effective movement of the pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj exercise.
The statement, which was made available to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, further stated: “The commission also approved the three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage and that include: Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited”.
According to the statement, “The approval reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigeria’s intending pilgrims.
“Consequently, the federal government concurrently approved the allocation of pilgrims from various states to each of the approved airlines.”
The statement said: “Those states approved for the affected three airlines are as follows, Air Peace is to transport intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers.
“FlyNas will airlift Muslim pilgrims from: Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara while Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for moving pilgrims from: Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states.
“The allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on airlift of pilgrims under government quota”.
The statement added: “However, state governments may choose to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage.
“Should any state enter such an exclusive arrangement, the decision should be communicated to the commission accordingly,” the statement added.
While congratulating the three approved airlines for this year’s hajj operations, NAHCON however, said it remained dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organisation, with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.
In another development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is set to lead a delegation from NAHCON to partake in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
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