The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has inaugurated the Aviation Monitoring Committee for 2019 Hajj.
The Head, Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Mrs Fatima Usara, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Usara explained that the team was expected to evaluate status of different airports from where Muslim pilgrims would be transported to the holy land.
She also said that the team had a duty to make recommendations to NAHCON as well as other air transport agencies on state of readiness of the airports for the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims.
Usara said the committee was also expected to evaluate equipment for luggage screening, luggage conveyance and quality of utilities at the airports for use by pilgrims.
” Additionally, they are to liaise with airports’ authority on provision of standard services for pilgrims similar to what is enjoyed by international travellers.
” Furthermore, the committee is to liaise with NAHCON central security committee to evolve new strategies against human and drug related trafficking during Hajj, to broaden the already existing security measures at the airports.”
According to her, the Executive Chairman of the commission, Abdullahi Muhammad reminded members of the committee that their job was instrumental to the success of 2019 Hajj operation.
Muhammad, therefore, listed the committee’s role to include: monitoring both inbound and outbound flights, ensuring compliance to airports rules, flight schedules by state pilgrims’ boards as well as airline operators.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, who is also a member of NAHCON board, Alhaji Aminu Dutse from the Ministry of Aviation, acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead of them.
Dutse pledged on behalf of members to work hard to discharge their mandate as advised by the NAHCON boss.
The committee comprised of aviation professionals drawn from Ministry of Aviation, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airports Management Authority (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Accident Investigation Bureau and NAHCON aviation specialists.
The committee has since begun sitting.(NAN)
