Med-View Urges FG to deepen support for pilgrims
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole has urged the Federal Government to deepen support for Nigerian pilgrims during Hajj operations.
Bankole, during a chat with news men on Wednesday at his corporate office in Ikeja, Lagos, also disclosed that Med-View Airline will airlift 20,000 pilgrims from 18 states across the country for this year hajj operations in Saudi-Arabia.
He said Med-View has gone a step forward in taking care of pligrims that patronize the airline by distributing free hijabs and Haram (white germent for Hajj operations) for its female and male pilgrims adding that zamzam water was also made available for the pilgrims before their departure.
On the logistic for this year’s hajj exercise, Bankole said that the airline had engaged more than three aircraft to ensure hitch free airlift and inward journey for the pilgrims.
Speaking on the need for the Federal Government to deepen support for Nigerian pilgrims while in Saudi-Arabia, the Med-View Airline boss noted that pilgrimage is one issue that thegovernment can’t shy away from.
He said over 90,000thousands Nigerian pilgrims will perform this year hajj noting that they need government’s care and support during and after the holy pilgrimage.
He said: “We must look beyond the spiritual exercise of the pilgrims; the Federal Government must show interest in it. They are your citizens; you must add value to the exercise to ensure that the Nigerian Embassy and Consular officers in Saudi-Arabia must be there with our pilgrims 24 hours and seven days a week to assist to provide other welfare logistic support to the citizens of the country.
“Government should understand that Nigerian pilgrims are in Saudi-Arabia not only because they want to fulfill Islamic obligation alone. Government have both the corporate and judicial responsibility to look at the welfare of its citizens. Pilgrims is something that government can’t shy away from, government must show concern about it.”
Giving details on this year Med-View hajj operations and airlifting exercise, Bankole said that the 20,000 pilgrims to be airlifted are from Kwara, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, and other states.
He added that distribution of free Hijabs and Hiram is just one among the airline packages for the pilgrims in addition to provision of haram and air lifting of zamzam water to Nigeria to ease transportation for the pilgrims.
He said other arrangements have also being put in place to make the hajj trip memorable experience for the pilgrims, saying “One thing with Medview is that logistic is working for us. Pilgrims that patronises us will know their day of departure and the inward journey back to Nigeria.
“One thing is for sure at Med-View; a pilgrim will know the day of his or her departure and arrival. We never fail our passengers. Secondly, we never leave our pilgrims anytime. We pay them visit all the times and help them to carry their luggages.”
The Med-View boss also added that the pilgrims airlifted outside the country by the airline outnumber those from Nigeria, adding that the management of Medview airline would remain committed to fulfilling its obligations to Nigerians always.
