Reprieve as Nigerian Airlines Get More Slots to Operate Flight Back Home of Pilgrims

Hammed Shittu in Makkah 

Reprieve came to the Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia yesterday as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has secured more slots for the Nigerian licensed carriers to ensure homeward journey of pilgrims to the country without further delay.

Before the approval, Nigerian pilgrims have been waiting endlessly to return to Nigeria after the completion of hajji exercise almost two weeks ago.

Nigeria carriers, it was gathered, have been sidelined in the homeward journey of pilgrims by the Saudi Arabian authorities to Nigeria but only allowed Saudi Arabia carrier, Flynax to fly pilgrims back to Nigeria.

Sources close to the NAHCON told journalists in Makkah yesterday on Tuesday that, the management of the Commission has to engage Saudi Arabia’s authorities on the need to soft pedal on their decision so as to allow the Nigerian pilgrims return home without further delay.

However, a statement issued in Makkah after the meeting of NAHCON with the Saudi Arabia’s authorities via General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA), yesterday agreed to give Nigerian airlines more slots to operate flight back home of pilgrims.

The statement, which was signed by the NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Media and Publication, Mr. Mousa Ubandawaki, stated that “with the situation, Max Airline with three aircrafts on its fleet will be able to operate all the aircraft to Nigeria every day. The same with Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Azman and Arik Air, which is dedicated to the airlift of private tour operators.

“Beginning from tomorrow, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, all the Nigerian licensed carriers would begin to operate their in-bound flight to Nigeria optimally.

“The new development is expected to ease the strain on the agitation of Nigerian pilgrims who have been anxious to return to Nigeria since the conclusion of the Hajj rites on June 30.

“It will also increase the pace of the airlift operation, which have been bogged down by non-availability of slots to the Nigerian licensed carriers especially by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.”

The statement added that “the commission has been disturbed about the situation which solution she had been battling with since the commencement of the second phase of the airlift operation.

“The GACA have refused to allot slots to the Nigerian airlines to speed up the return of pilgrims back home.

“Several representations, meetings were held. The intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Amb. Dauda Yahaya Lawal, achieved little success until the issue was escalated to the highest level of government before the situation was finally resolved.

“Thus far, only 26 flights have recorded on the in-bound airlift operation with the highest shuttle operated by the Saudi- owned Flynas, which operated more than 2/3 of the flights.”