President Bola Tinubu has announced the selection of three airlines as the exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. The airlines are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas, and Max Air.
The decision was made by the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on the transportation of pilgrims under the government quota, according to a statement by Mrs Fatima Sanda-Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The statement also revealed that the president approved three air cargo companies to airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage. They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd., Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Ltd.
The president said the approval was part of his commitment to ensuring a smooth and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian intending pilgrims. He congratulated the approved airlines on their selection and urged them to prepare for the 2024 Hajj season.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a duty of every adult, sane, free Muslim who is capable of performing it once in a lifetime. It involves traveling to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
The Hajj is expected to take place between June 26 and July 1, 2024, depending on the sighting of the moon of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar. The Eid al-Adha celebrations, which mark the end of the pilgrimage, will take place on June 28, 2024.
Nigeria is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world, with about 50% of its population adhering to the faith. The country has an allocation of about 95,000 pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj, according to NAHCON.
The commission said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar will lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 7 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2024 Hajj.
The MoU will cover various aspects of the pilgrimage, such as accommodation, transportation, feeding, health care, and welfare of the Nigerian pilgrims.
The 2024 Hajj will be the first under the administration of President Tinubu, who was sworn in as Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2023, after winning the country’s most competitive election since the end of military rule in 1999.
The president, who is a Muslim of the Yoruba ethnic group, has been praised for his inclusive approach to governance and his respect for the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.
The president’s approval of the three airlines for the 2024 Hajj is seen as another gesture of goodwill and encouragement to the Nigerian Muslim faithful, who are looking forward to performing the sacred pilgrimage and fulfilling their religious obligation.
The president has also assured the pilgrims of his prayers and best wishes as they prepare for the journey of a lifetime.
Source: Vanguard News
