Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
MANAGEMENT of Medview has reacted to allegations of scam in the 2019 hajj airlift stressing that there was no diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj airlift, as said funds were utilized for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers
The airline also said that $900,000 being referred to in reports was paid by NAHCON directly to two service providers in Saudi Arabia namely General Authority of Aviation ($400,000 and Taibah Airports Development Company ($500,000) on July 5, 2019.
Medview Airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun States in the 2019 hajj
The airline In a statement signed by the Director of Business Development, Mr. Isiaq Na-Allah said, ” The attention of Medview Airline Plc has been drawn to media reports on allegation of scam following the invitation of the CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole by EFCC to shed light on the airline Hajj Operations contract with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
“There was no scam or diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj airlift, and said the funds were utilized for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
“In spite of deft moves by some highly placed persons to frustrate the airline from the operations with late release of funds, Medview Airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun States. The Pilgrims Boards in those states are living witnesses of the operation”.
In line with the terms of the contract with NAHCON, a Presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to Medview Airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metaphorized into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved.
It is therefore strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop armed with trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.
Medview Airline is resolute to return to its leadership role in Hajj operations,” the airline’s statement concluded.
