2016 Hajj:See what is trending on the Social Media. Is there any truth to this…?

Is there any truth to this…?

I just received this news regarding the 2016 hajj today. This is trending now and i have decided to repost as received, hoping that the concerned parties would respond to the issues raised and set the records straight. where possible. Now read:

“A very disturbing issues trending with regards 2016 Hajj Airlift!!! The people deserve to know what’s going on right now. The process of selection of Hajj carriers by the Federal Government of Nigeria has always been a meticulous and thorough job. Before a carrier is chosen he is examined thoroughly in all areas, to determine his competence, capacity and expertise. A team of aviation professionals and technocrats were assembled to scrutinize all claims made by a carrier. This years selection was no different. The process started over six months ago. After careful scrutiny of the airlines that tendered for the job, six airlines emerged victorious and successfully passed the selection process. These are; Medview, Max Air, Dornier Aviation, Azman, Flynas and Topbrass. respectively. Accordingly, having received the nod and official letters issued from the Federal Government of Nigeria, preparations started in earnest. Each of the carriers deployed all resources and preparations for the Hajj exercise by wooing states for patronage to get their pilgrims. Suddenly a new rule was introduced. It is claimed that a Saudi agency GAKA has pruned down the number of selected carriers to only 3 on flimsy reasons. They chose Medview, Flynas and Max Air only. Whereas Medview and Flynas are owned and backed by some Saudi businessmen with some Nigerian fronts, only Max Air (indigenous) made the numbers. This is unprecedented in the history of Hajj airlift operations in Nigeria. However, whatever the reasons given, we believe that NIGERIA is an independent nation that is capable of determining who and how their pilgrims are transported to the holy land. The process conducted by Hajj commission is thorough enough and has always passed the Saudi discerning demands. It is surprising that NAHCON is so passive and very cooperative to this new directives from GAKA with little or no protests, not until some of the disenfranchised Airlift operators for the 2016 hajj airlift protested against the directives. We found them willing tools in this nefarious rule. More so in other countries of the world, a tour operator, not even an airliner, can arrange and ferry pilgrims to and from Saudi. This is the acceptable international norm. We feel this connivance of Saudi demand of Nigeria is being brewed and articulated here in Nigeria and perfected in GAKA for obvious reasons. This therefore call on the Federal government of Nigeria to set up a judicial panel to unravel this issue and deal decisively with any culprits found to be involved. More so the era of impunity and disregard for due process is over with the present administration’s stance on change mantra. Nigeria cannot afford to be treated like an adolescent, not capable of determining what it wants. It cannot take orders from any government especially doubtful demands such as this one. We know for certain that Nigeria signed an agreement with Saudi that they will be allowed 25% of Nigerian pilgrims to carry at the onset. But with the present fraudulent arrangements you tell me how many of Nigerian pilgrims are the Saudis carrying? You do the maths and is another point to ponder. But lets do rough maths, assuming 65,000 Nigerians are performing this year’s hajj, multiplying this by $1,800 per pilgrim will come to $117,000,000.00 it means about 2/3 of this will go the Saudi backed companies (Medview & Flynass). How’s that for patriotism? When all hands should be on deck now to ensure our indigenous companies are strengthened and empowered to provide employment opportunities to Nigerians, here we have a situation where some selfish gluttonous high placed Nigerians have connived to disenfranchise Nigerians. Now is the time for the PMB led Federal government to call them to order and reverse this ugly self serving rule for the benefit of other successfully screened Nigerian 2016 Hajj airline operators.”