Nigeria has initiated discussions with Saudi Arabia to revise existing air service agreements governing the transportation of pilgrims for the Hajj. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, led a delegation to Riyadh for talks with Saudi transport and civil aviation authorities.
Keyamo Holds Talks with Saudi Officials
During separate meetings with Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the Nigerian delegation pushed for updates to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding that regulates pilgrim airlift operations.
Areas of Discussion
The talks focused on several critical issues, including slot allocations for Nigerian carriers, the sharing formula for transporting pilgrims between both countries, and measures to enhance operational efficiency for the 2026 Hajj. Both sides described the discussions as productive, with key decisions already communicated to designated airlines for implementation.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, along with senior ministry officials. The review aims to improve the overall experience for Nigerian pilgrims and ensure smoother logistics during the annual religious exercise.
