The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed selection of four airlines who will transport Nigerian pilgrims on 2025 Hajj.
The approved carriers are Max Air, Air Peace, UMZA Aviation and Saudi Arabia based Flynas. The four official airlines were selected out of 11 airlines including two foreign based operators applied for the conveyance of about 60,000 pilgrims to the Kingdom.
The Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, disclosed that the Presidency approved the four airlines as official air carriers ahead of next Hajj.
Prior to the selection, the 11 carriers were screened and subsequently shortlisted by a team of 32 members inaugurated by the commission on 26th November 2024.
Similarly, three excess cargo carriers were selected for the year’s Hajj operations. They are Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited and Qualla Investment Limited (also in alphabetical order).
The composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and one member each from Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Similarly, one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Others were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.
A statement signed by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publication, said Professor Usman congratulated the successful companies while urging them to fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.
In another development, Prof Abdullahi Sale Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria.
The event was held today 12th January 2025 in Jeddah Saudi Arabia to formalize the year’s Hajj engagements. On the NHCON Chairman’s entourage were Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; Chairman House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage Hon. Jafaru Muhammed Ali; Nigeria’s Chargé de Affairs in Riyadh, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo; Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Mu’azzam I. J. Nayaya, and Ambassador Mahmud Lele from Foreign Affairs.
The statement by Usara said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented at the signing ceremony by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat.
