The Nigerian Government has officially granted approval to three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, which is expected to start on Friday, 14th of June and continue until Wednesday, 19th of June 2024.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs Department of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, the approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd, Max Air, and FlyNas, a Saudi Arabian Air carrier.
Also approved are three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage: Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited.
“The approval reinforces government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure experience for Nigeria’s intending pilgrims.
Consequently, the federal government concurrently approved allocation of pilgrims from various states to each of the approved airlines 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 States.
FlyNas will airlift pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun,Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, and Zamfara States.
Max Air, with the highest allocation, will be responsible for moving pilgrims from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau States,” said Hajiya Fatima Usara.
She said 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.
“However, state governments may choose to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage.
Should any state enter such exclusive arrangement, the decision should be communicated to the commission accordingly,” she added.
The NAHCON Chairman, Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines on their selection and called on them to gear up to facilitate smooth pilgrimage in the 2024 season.
He assured that NAHCON remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organization, with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.
In another development, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is set to lead a delegation from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to partake in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on the 7th of January 2024.
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