Kenneth Ehigiator
24 April 2009
WORRIED by the suffering of its pilgrims during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, the Togolese government has designated Nigeria's Medview Airlines to airlift the pilgrims to the Holy Land henceforth.
The development, which came on the heels of the commissioning of the airline's office in Lome, the Togolese capital, is to stave off a situation where Togolese formerly travel by road to Ghana to board airplanes to the Holy Land.
Director General of the Togo Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Latta Dokisime Gnama, who announced his government's intention, promised to fast-track all processes that would enable the airline stabilize its operations in Togo.
Gnama said Togolese pilgrims' previous harrowing experiences in the course of performing Hajj was what informed the government setting up a National Commission on Hajj to work out modalities on how to partner with an airline that could fly pilgrims directly from Lome to Jeddah.
"Since you offer visas for the Hajj, it's really a big advantage. We had a big headache in the 2006 Hajj and that was why we said we can only partner with an airline with a base in Togo that will go directly to Jeddah and not first to its home country or hub before transiting.
"My issue as regards Hajj is safety. We've had to disqualify airlines in the past for sharp practices. So, once all documentations are complete and approvals gotten from the appropriate quarters, we'll inspect the airplanes and all that come with them and once everything is okay, then you people are set for business", he said.
Representative of the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Joe Waribagha, also noted that many Muslim Togolese have had terrible experiences trying to perform the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
According to him, Togolese have had to, in the past, travel to Ghana to travel to Saudi Arabia with other airlines that were involved in the airlift and were subjected to inconveniences in the process.
Waribagha praised the management of Med-View for winning the trust of the Saudi authorities who gave them the right to issue visas for anyone or group wishing to perform the lesser Hajj, but challenged the airline on customer satisfaction.
He said: "It's good that our people from Togo can now travel to Saudi for Hajj without having to go to Ghana to obtain the visa. Visas can now be issued from Med-View office here in Lome.
"So they'll provide an aircraft that will fly people directly from Lome to Jeddah. That is commendable and the Embassy is ready to support the airline to any length. Our doors are open 24 hours and we'll do our best to assist this laudable move by Med-View."
Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole expressed joy over the warm reception granted the airline by all the authorities visited, pledging that the airline will deliver on all promises made.
He said Med-View, which had been partnering with the Nigerian government on Hajj airlift since 2004, intends to operate charter operations with airplanes registered in Togo as a flag carrier.
"We also have arrangement with Saudi Arabian Cargo and can offer cargo services for the Togolese people. If they have cargoes from outside, we can get it for them and bring it to Togo. More so, no more visa problem for Hajj and many more services we want to offer", he said.Worried by the suffering of its pilgrims during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, the Togolese government has designated Nigeria's Medview Airlines to airlift the pilgrims to the Holy Land henceforth.
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