Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has approved four airlines to serve as official carriers for Nigerian pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
The announcement was made by the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, in a statement released by Mrs. Fatima Usara, the commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Prof. Usman, the four airlines which are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi-designated airline), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd. They were selected from a pool of 11 companies that applied for the role.
The airlines were screened and shortlisted by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024. The committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and one representative each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Other members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and various NAHCON departments, including Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, and Special Duties.
Prof. Usman also announced the selection of three excess cargo carriers, which are Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd., and Qualla Investment Ltd, for the Hajj operations.
He urged all approved companies to meet their commitments as outlined during the screening process.
Meanwhile, the NAHCON Chairman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Federal Government. The signing ceremony, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was attended by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, the Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, to formalize this year’s Hajj engagements.
The approved airlines and cargo carriers are expected to facilitate seamless transportation for Nigerian pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage.
By Taiwo Olatinwo| January 13, 2025
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