The Federal Government has approved four airlines to serve as official carriers for Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This announcement was made by the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, in a statement issued by the commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Mrs. Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
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According to Usman, the selected airlines-Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabian carrier), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.-were chosen from a pool of 11 applicants. “The four approved airlines were rigorously screened and shortlisted by a 32-member committee inaugurated by NAHCON on Nov. 26, 2024,” he said.
He explained that the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other aviation-related bodies such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Other members were drawn from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Prof. Usman also revealed that three excess cargo carriers-Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd., and Qualla Investment Ltd.-were selected to handle cargo operations for the pilgrimage.
Congratulating the successful airlines and cargo handlers, the NAHCON Chairman urged them to deliver on their promises. “We expect the approved companies to fulfill their responsibilities as pledged during the screening process,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian government.
The Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the signing ceremony, held in Jeddah to formalize this year’s Hajj engagements.
