By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has met with the representatives of air carriers that airlifted pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj.

A statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director Public Affairs, said the meeting is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the complication that hindered settlement of the year?s Hajj ticket fees to the airlines.

Those present at the meeting were the representative of Aero Contractors, the representative of Max Air, those of Air Peace, Azman and FlyNas.

It would be recalled that the air ticket fee for the 2023 Hajj was $2,026.00 at a concessionary rate of N456 to a Dollar. In Naira equivalent, pilgrims paid N923,856.00 as cost of return ticket.

?Unfortunately, by the time the Hajj airlift was concluded, the Dollar had already risen leading to the predicament. ?The Dollar volatility since then kept worsening the situation. Series of meetings held to resolve the matter had always ended in a log-jam with the airlines insisting for payment in Dollars as stated in the contract.

?Considering the protracted predicament, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima intervened with an appeal to the airlines to accept payment of the air fare in Naira in the face of Dollar scarcity. Hence, the Commission yesterday, 18th September 2024 invited the airlines for a resolution of the matter?, the statement said.

Speaking during the consultative meeting, Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazaq who led the deliberations recognized the airlines for their mutual understanding and demonstration of loyalty for a long term partnership. He prayed that by the end of the meeting, both parties would reach a common ground.

In his remark, Commissioner Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, observed that the outstanding payment was overdue and praised the airlines for their magnanimity. He lamented that the reason for this stalemate was the insistence by the airlines to receive payment only in Dollars, but a shift in this stance would hopefully end further delay in settling the debt.

Consequently, the airlines? representatives expressed their frustrations but subsequently agreed with the proposed naira payment and promised to work with the Commission in ending the log-jam.

Meanwhile, the Commission is scheduled to meet with other important stakeholders to discuss critical Hajj 2025 issues as well.

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