FG reviews 1978 air deal to secure more Hajj slots for Nigerian airlines

The Federal Government in Nigeria is conducting a review of the 1978 Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Saudi Arabia to ensure more airlift slots are allocated to Nigerian airlines during Hajj operations. This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement made on Thursday following a meeting with stakeholders on Nigeria's Hajj aviation strategy.

The meeting was convened on the directive of Vice President Kashim Shettima, aimed at addressing the Hajj operation. The participants of the meeting included the Permanent Secretary Mahmud Adamu Kambari, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ismail Abba Yusuf, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, and Hajj airline operators.

The primary objective of the meeting was to secure a larger share of pilgrims' airlift for Nigerian flag carriers. Keyamo also revealed that a joint technical team has been assigned the task of reviewing the 1978 Bilateral Air Services Agreement and the 2015 memorandum of understanding between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. These documents outline the framework for air services and the sharing of the annual airlift of Nigerian pilgrims, respectively.