{
  "id": 8044004,
  "title": "FG reviews 1978 air deal to secure more Hajj slots for Nigerian airlines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fg-reviews-1978-air-deal-to-secure-more-hajj-slots-for-nigerian-8044004",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T15:10:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/fg-reviews-1978-air-deal-to-secure-more-hajj-slots-for-nigerian-airlines/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The Federal Government is reviewing a 1978 air agreement with Saudi Arabia. The review aims to secure more airlift slots for Nigerian airlines during Hajj operations.\n\nThe review was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after a meeting with stakeholders on Nigeria's Hajj aviation strategy. The meeting was directed by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ismail Abba Yusuf, and Hajj airline operators.\n\nThe goal of the review is to negotiate a larger quota of pilgrims for Nigerian airlines to airlift during Hajj operations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FG reviews 1978 air deal to secure more Hajj slots for Nigerian airlines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fg-reviews-1978-air-deal-to-secure-more-hajj-slots-for-nigerian",
        "published": "2026-09-17T14:50:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "FG reviews 1978 Nigeria-Saudi air service agreement to secure more Hajj slots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fg-reviews-1978-nigeria-saudi-air-service-agreement-to-secure-more",
        "published": "2026-09-17T15:22:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}