The Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has officially granted approval to three distinguished airlines to exclusively airlift intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
The approved carriers are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas, and Max Air, a move reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) revealed that the Federal Government has also sanctioned three air cargo companies—Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited—to handle the airfreight of pilgrims’ excess luggage.
To streamline the process, the government has allocated pilgrims from various states to each approved airline based on the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Air Peace will transport pilgrims from 15 states, including Abia, Delta, and Rivers, while FlyNas is tasked with airlifting pilgrims from nine states, including Lagos and Borno. Max Air, with the highest allocation, will be responsible for transporting pilgrims from 14 states, including Kano and Kaduna.
The allocation of pilgrims aligns with the subsisting BASA, emphasizing the structured organization of the pilgrimage. However, state governments have the flexibility to choose any of the approved freight companies for transporting their pilgrims’ excess luggage, with communication to the Commission.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is set to lead a delegation from NAHCON in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on January 7, 2024.
The Chairman of the commission, Malam Jalal Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines and urged them to gear up for facilitating a smooth pilgrimage, emphasizing NAHCON’s dedication to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organization, prioritizing the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims in the upcoming season.
