The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON and the four Nigerian Airlines approved for the airlift of the Nigerian pilgrims to the 2023 Hajj have finally laid the truce with the signing of the 2023 Hajj Airlift Agreement.
In a statement signed by the NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Information and Publications, Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, the signing of the agreement took place in Abuja, the nation’s capital and was attended by both NAHCON and the Airline’s Chief Executives.
NAHCON, AHUON, Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik, Azman, Max Air signed 2023 HAJJ Airlift Agreement today Tuesday, 9th May 2023 at HAJJ House – Abuja. pic.twitter.com/xYIFjoNq66
— Nigeria Hajj Commission (@nigeriahajjcom) May 9, 2023
NAHCON Signed 2023 HAJJ Airlift Agreements with Nigeria Based Airlines.. pic.twitter.com/fwRhIt7BNv
— Nigeria Hajj Commission (@nigeriahajjcom) May 10, 2023
Ubandawaki said that NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan praised the patriotic zeal of the Airlines for their sacrifices in the face of the challenge posed by the Sudan crisis.
“We are not unmindful of the challenge posed by the closure of the Sudan airspace to your Hajj operation; however, I wish to appeal to your conscience and sense of patriotism not to further burden the pilgrim with additional costs or changes.”
NAHCON SIGNED 2023 HAJJ AIRLIFT AGREEMENTS with AIR CARRIERS… pic.twitter.com/lbLpjY5NcT
— Nigeria Hajj Commission (@nigeriahajjcom) May 9, 2023
In their separate speeches, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi said that the Airlines sympathised with the pilgrims who have earlier paid their Hajj fare before the crises broke out, but we are constrained to take that decision because of logistic and operational need. We won’t like anything that will disrupt our operation halfway.”
In the same vein, the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama said that their call for the review of the Airlift Agreement with NAHCON was not to exploit the Sudan crises for business gains or opportunities. “We care for the Nigerian pilgrims many of who we know to have made personal sacrifices in paying for Hajj. We are also mindful of the fact that the pilgrims had already paid before this crisis broke out. We don’t want to deprive them of this opportunity to make the journey to the Holy Land. We are doing it for national pride.”
According to the statement, the formal signing of the Agreement with the four Nigerian Airlines, Air Peace, Azman Air Services, Aero Contractor and Max Airline represented remarkable progress in the march towards the commencement of airlift to Hajj 2023 which will officially kick off on May 21st with the airlift of the Advance Team from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
It would be recalled that only the Saudi Arabian airline, Flynas signed the 2023 Airlift Agreement with the Commission last Tuesday, 2nd May 2023 while the representatives of the four Nigerian airlines refused to sign citing the Sudan Crises as the reason and the need to consult with their Chief Executives.
