The federal government has given approval to Nigerian carriers Air Peace, Max Air, UMZA Aviation Services Limited, and a Saudi-based low-cost private airline, Flynas to airlift Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Their approval was announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in statement issued yesterday by the commission’s assistant director, information and publication, Ms Fatima Usara.
According to the release, three cargo airlines, Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited and Qualla Investment Limited, were also listed for this year’s exercise.
“The chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof Abdullahi Usman, is pleased to announce that the Presidency has approved four airlines as official air carriers for pilgrims of the 2025 Hajj.
“These carriers were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications for the airlift of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.
“The selected airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited (in alphabetical order),” Usara said.
She explained that the carriers were screened and shortlisted by a 32-member team inaugurated by the NAHCON chairman on November 26, 2024.
She further said aviation screening committee was made up of 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 the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
She added that while the Nigeria Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had one member each, other members of the committee were NAHCON board members representing each of the six geo-political zones of the country, the commission’s heads of aviation, procurement, legal, internal audit, special duties as well as its board member representing the aviation industry.
Also yesterday, the commission signed the 2025 hajj memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
While Usman signed on behalf of Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, signed on behalf of the Kingdom.
Usara said the ceremony was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to formalise the 2025 Hajj engagements.
On the NAHCON chairman’s entourage to the event were chairman l, senate committee on foreign affairs, Mr Abubakar Bello; chairman, house of representatives committee on Muslim Pilgrimage, Mr Jafaru Ali; Nigeria’s Chargé de Affairs in Riyadh, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo; Nigeria’s Consul-General in Jeddah, Mr Mu’azzam I. J. Nayaya and Ambassador Mahmud Lele from the ministry of foreign affairs.