.. As CSO appeals to FG, States to subsidise pilgrims hajj flight tickets
Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organization that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia has disclosed that Saudi’s Flynas is set to transport 28, 515, while the local airliners that demand for upward review of air tickets like Max Air has 16,326 allocation, Air Peace 11,348, Azman Air 8,660 and Aero Contractors has 7,833 pilgrims,
The body In a statement signed by Ibrahim Muhammed, National Coordinator of the CSO, said so far, only Saudi’s Flynas agreed to airlift the pilgrims at the pre–Sudan crisis air ticket price, while the local airliners are demanding for upward review of air tickets, thus leaving leaving the fate of remaining 44, 167 States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards pilgrims in apparent uncertainty.
This development is coming as the CSO has urged the Federal and State Governments to subsidize the differences in the prices of air tickets of Nigerian 2023 intending Hajj pilgrims.
On Saturday, the commission has announced an increase of $250 in the flight tickets of the 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims due to the closure of Sudan airspace because of the ongoing war in the North African country.
The closure of the Sudanese airspace will compel airlines to fly through longer routes to Saudi Arabia which will take approximately 7 hours instead of the usual 4 hours plus. This unfortunate development has added another 2 to 3 hours flight time to the existing airlift cost template for Nigerian Intending pilgrims.
The increase in the airport tickets comes after pilgrims have completed the payment of Hajj fare as announced by NAHCON.
“Having paid the approved Hajj fare, we know Nigerian Muslims or Nigerian intending pilgrims would have to pay the differences in the air tickets if time permits; but we are worried that with less than 10 days to the commencement of airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, asking pilgrims to pay the difference at this time will definitely derail the airlift exercise.
“While we commend the Federal Government’s efforts in evacuating Nigerians who are stranded in Sudan, we appeal to the government to extend the same gesture to Nigerian intending pilgrims by subsidizing the 2023 Hajj air ticket,” the CSO said.
