The Federal Government has approved four airlines to serve as official carriers for pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, announced that the selected airlines were chosen from 11 applicants vying for the opportunity to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The approved carriers are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabia-designated airline), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.
Prof. Usman noted that the selection process was conducted by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024.
The committee comprised representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and one representative each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Additionally, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) contributed one member each.
The committee also included NAHCON board members representing various geopolitical zones, as well as heads of NAHCON departments such as Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, and Special Duties, alongside industry board members.
The NAHCON Chairman also announced the selection of three excess cargo carriers for the 2025 Hajj operations. The approved companies are Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd., and Qualla Investment Ltd.
He congratulated the successful companies and urged them to deliver on their commitments as outlined during the screening process.
In a related development, 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 signing ceremony, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, formalized this year’s Hajj arrangements. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat.