Umza Aviation Services, in partnership with Aero Contractors, one of the airlines approved by the Federal Government to transport Nigerians prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia has began operation on Friday in Abuja.
According to reports, the airline departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 19:32 hours with 288 male and 175 female pilgrims, with 13 officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Nigerian hajj regulatory body had allocated no fewer than 8,033 prospective pilgrims to Aero Contractors to transport them to Saudi Arabia and back to Nigeria after the end of 2023 hajj rituals.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the flight took off, Alhaji Liman Mohammad, Head of Human Resources, Administration, Hajj and Umrah for the Umza Aviation and Officer, Coordinating 2023 Hajj for Aero Contractors, assured of a hitch-free operation.
”We bade for hajj and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria allocated 8,033 pilgrims for us. They are the pilgrims of Nasarawa, Oyo, Adamawa and Taraba States.
He said, “The operation is starting with the Nasarawa pilgrims at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, we have carried 463 passengers comprising Nasarawa pilgrims and officials of NAHCON.
“The aircraft is going and coming back immediately for the second flight. Continuously, that is how we will do the operation until we finish Nasarawa with six flight operations.”
