The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said Arik Air will airlifts its allocated 7,000 private prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for hajj in due time.
The commission in a statement by its assistant director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, on Sunday said it is aware of the challenges private tour operators are currently going through, assuring that it will deploy all its resources to arrest the situation before it becomes irredeemable.
NAHCON said it is about to seal a fresh deal that would ensure all pilgrims from the private sector that paid to be airlifted by Arik Air to Saudi Arabia as planned.
The commission stated that: “It entered agreement with Arik Air to transport about 7,000 pilgrims registered with the private travel agencies for the 2023 hajj. Arik on its part signed the deal with a Saudi based airline to ferry its allocation using two aircraft to be stationed in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.
“The airline actually provided the agreed aircraft but having conveyed the first set of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, it never returned to finish its job. This led to pilgrims feeling abandoned,” it added.
The statement reads: “Fairness to both Arik and its partner, funds that were supposed to be advanced for the engagement was yet to be released at the time of airlift due to certain financial restrictions, a development that crippled the agreement despite NAHCON’s assurances.
“The commission has so far injected resources to keep this contract alive as well as exploring other options of engaging more local and foreign airlines to conclude the airlift of private tour operators’ pilgrims.”
