The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official carriers for Nigerian pilgrims traveling for the 2025 Hajj.
In a statement on Sunday, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), announced that the four airlines were selected from a pool of 11 companies that applied to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
The approved carriers are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabia-designated airline), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd. Usman explained that the airlines were carefully vetted by a 32-member screening committee inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024.
The screening committee was made up of representatives from various agencies, including the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Additionally, NAHCON board members representing each geopolitical zone and relevant department heads participated in the process.
In addition to the airlines, three excess cargo carriers were also selected for the Hajj operations: Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd., and Qualla Investment Ltd.
Prof. Usman congratulated the successful companies and emphasized the importance of fulfilling their obligations as outlined during the screening process.
Furthermore, the NAHCON chairman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in a ceremony held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
