The Nigerian Presidency has approved four airlines to manage the airlift of pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj. This was confirmed in a statement signed by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Information and Publication at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The approved airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited. These carriers were selected from a pool of 11 applicants by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee, inaugurated by NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, on November 26, 2024. The committee included representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and other relevant agencies.
Additionally, three cargo carriers were approved to handle excess baggage for the pilgrims. They are Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited, and Qualla Investment Limited.
Prof. Usman congratulated the selected airlines and cargo carriers, urging them to meet their commitments to ensure a smooth Hajj operation. He reaffirmed NAHCON’s dedication to providing top-notch services for Nigerian pilgrims.
In a related development, Prof. Usman led a delegation to Saudi Arabia, where he signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The signing ceremony, held in Jeddah, was attended by key Nigerian officials, including Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Hon. Jafaru Muhammed Ali, Chairman of the House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage.
Other members of the Nigerian delegation included Dr. Ibrahim Modibbo, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Riyadh, Ambassador Mu’azzam I. J. Nayaya, Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah, and Ambassador Mahmud Lele from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
The MoU formalized the arrangements for the participation of Nigerian pilgrims in the 2025 Hajj, reflecting the commitment of both nations to a successful pilgrimage exercise.
