President Bola Tinubu has granted approval to three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

The airlines are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.

The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Sanda-Usara, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Mrs Sanda-Usara also disclosed that the Tinubu-led Federal Government approved three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage.

According to her, the three air cargo companies are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd., Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Ltd.

She said that the approval reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian 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, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, Rivers states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“FlyNas will transport intending pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara states.

“And Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for moving pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states.

She explained that the allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on the transportation 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 NAHCON accordingly.

“The Chairman of NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines on the selection and called on them to gear up to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage in 2024 season.”

She said that NAHCON remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organisation with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.

Mrs Sanda-Usara revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar is set to lead a delegation from the NAHCON to partake in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the 2024 hajj on January 7.

(NAN)