The federal government has approved four airlines as official air carriers for Nigerian pilgrims of the 2025 Hajj.
The news was confirmed by the Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, on Sunday.
The selected airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited (in alphabetical order).
Muslim News gathered that the carriers were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications for the airlift of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.
The air carriers were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that was inaugurated by the NAHCON Chairman on 26th November 2024.
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.
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 Chairman, who is currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to finalize engagements for this year’s Hajj congratulated the successful companies while urging them to fulfil their responsibilities as promised during the screening.
Some of his activities in Saudi Arabia include signing the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria, which was held on Sunday 12th January 2025 in Jeddah.
On the NAHCON 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.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, at the signing ceremony.
The delegation led by Prof Saleh Usman will also attend the International Hajj Expo beginning on Monday, January 13, 2025, where they will explore and evaluate service provider options for Nigerian pilgrims.
Sponsored
