For over 22 years, Cargo Zeal Technologies Nigeria Limited has been in the business of serving people by air-freighting their luggage across the world and she started the air-freighting operation for hajj exercise in 2014
The cargo company has been accredited by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
In an interview with Muslim News’ correspondent in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Cargo Zeal Technologies Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Abdulaziz Afolabi, disclosed that his company was one of the two successfully accredited companies by NAHCON to air-freight pilgrims’ excess luggage in the 2023 hajj.
According to him, without cargo companies like Cargo Zeal, many pilgrims would be forced to abandon different items they have bought for loved ones going back home because there is a limit to the luggage allowed at the airport.
He said: “Hajj is supposed to be an easy thing for all pilgrims and Allah Himself said He wants us to have ease. He doesn’t want problems for us. We know the extent of the problems pilgrims face during hajj period. So, by the time they perform the rituals, everyone is tired and it will be difficult for them to go about doing a lot of things including their excess luggage. So, we can’t allow them go through that kind of stress. That is why the government makes it possible for people like us who have registered companies to ease the pilgrims. We are here to ensure that they don’t have any problem managing themselves and their cargoes, because it is not easy to get all these things to the airport.
“Sometimes, a lot of them abandon their cargoes, particularly those things they bought for their loved ones. So, when the government saw at it as a big problem for them, they encouraged companies like us to come in. The airline gave them a maximum of 23 kilograms that they can carry along with them, but some of them have more than that. Instead of resulting to wastage, they turn to the services of people like us.”
The MD/CEO noted that Cargo Zeal is accredited by NAHCON and has been serving pilgrims diligently, including reaching out to them at their accomodations to make things easier.
“We are a National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) accredited cargo company. It makes it very easy for them as they don’t need to go through any hustle. Some of them call us and we go to their hotels, accommodations and package their luggage. We deliver it to them as they have given it to us. The reason we ventured into this business is for us to contribute our own quota in assisting pilgrims by easing their challenge of transporting excess luggage.”
He explained that the maximum time spent to deliver cargo to pilgrims after the hajj exercise is 3 weeks.
Alhaji Afolabi said Cargo Zeal is unique because not only has it been in the business for 23 years, it also operates across the world.
“Cargo Zeal is a long-time company. We have been in the business for a long time; at least 23 years. It’s not doing cargo for hajj operations alone, it does this cargo business all over the world, year in, year out. Again, in terms of excess luggage, we take and deliver them intact. We are also timely; we deliver as scheduled.”
The MD also revealed that Cargo Zeal has a coverage of both the north and south of Nigeria.
According to him, “We have two divisions. We take the southern cargoes to the south; I mean to Lagos and the northern cargoes to north. The northern division includes Borno, Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto, Taraba. We take the cargoes to these divisions for easy distribution towards each route.”
