The federal government has approved Air Peace, Max Air and a Saudi airline, FlyNas as the official carriers to airlift Muslim faithful taking part in the 2024 hajj to Mecca.
The government also approved Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited as the official cargo companies for the exercise.
The approval is contained in a statement issued by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and signed by its assistant director of public affairs, Ms Fatima Usara.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially granted approval to three distinguished airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, they are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.
Also approved are three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage. They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited,” Usara said.
Air Peace, according to the statement, will ferry intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Saudi’s FlyNas will airlift intending pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara states.
Max Air, which has the lion’s share of the allocation, will move 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.
“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,” the statement added.
In addition, the commission announced that the minister of foreign affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, will “lead a delegation from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to partake in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on 7th January 2024.”
