Less than a week to the commencement of airlift of intending Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 hajj, the Saudi authorities were said to have disqualified three Nigeria air carriers from participating in the airlift of the pilgrims.
The Head of Aviation of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Muhammadu Goni, who made this known when he answered questions from news men at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja listed the affected airlines as Dornier Aviation Nigeria AEP Limited, Top Brass and Azman Air Services. The three which have been disqualified were among the six airline operators which the Federal Government approved for the airlift of the intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj.
Muhammadu Goni said that the airlines approved by the Saudi authorities are: Med-View Airlines Limited, Max Air Limited and Fly-Nas Air (Saudi Arabian designated carrier), adding that only these three airlines were designated to fly the route between the two countries.
He said that NAHCON has made concerted efforts to ensure that the Saudi Arabian Government allowed the three disqualified airlines to participate in the exercise, but to no avail.
He said that the commission has forwarded the report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Aviation for diplomatic intervention, but that Saudi Arabia did not grant its request.
“In fact, a delegation was sent to appeal to Saudi Arabian Authority to allow the three carriers fly their route, but they insisted that those airlines must acquire designation status because they only applied as charter flights.”
Muhammadu Goni said that it is a standing rule that all Hajj participating countries must abide by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority’s condition in order to participate in the Hajj.
He said that it is clearly stipulated in GACA that any country participating in the Hajj must give 50 per cent of its total pilgrims to Saudi airlines to transport them.
He said that GACA and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority are responsible for the technical analysis, clearance and inspection of airlines involved in Hajj operation.
Muhammadu Goni said that GACA had the sole responsibility of taking care of safety and economic regulations of the air carriers involved in transporting intending pilgrims.
He said that NAHCON had stated it clearly in the advertisement for application and screening of air carriers that it was subject to NCAA and GACA clearance.
“We have a standing procedure for selecting airlines for transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, starting from placement of advert on the commission official website and national dailies.
“After we received applications and other necessary documents from interested carriers, then the commission would set up a 30-member Screening Committee involving different organisations to screen the airlines.
“Members of the Committee will be drawn from NAMA, FAAN, NCIA, EFCC, ICPC, Ministry of Aviation and other relevant agencies.
“Then the panel of the committee would adopt a screening template and agree on pass mark, which this year we agreed on 60 per cent benchmark.”
Muhammadu Goni said that nine airlines applied to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, but that only six were qualified by the screening committee, after thorough examination.
The head of aviation further said the committee, after screening, submitted the report to the management of NAHCON for consideration and endorsement.
“After extensive deliberations, the Board of NAHCON will transmit the report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for onward submission to the Presidency for final approval.” [myad]
