The Federal Government has approved four airlines to serve as official carriers for Nigerian pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued by the commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Mrs. Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Usman, the approved airlines are **Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabian airline), Max Air,** and **UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.** These airlines were selected from 11 companies that submitted applications for the 2025 Hajj operations.
### Screening and Selection Process
The selection was carried out by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024. The committee included representatives from various agencies, such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Additional members were drawn from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and NAHCON Board members representing the six geopolitical zones.
### Cargo Operations
Three excess cargo carriers were also approved for the 2025 Hajj operations: **Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd.,** and **Qualla Investment Ltd.**
Prof. Usman congratulated the successful airlines and cargo carriers, urging them to deliver on their commitments made during the screening process.
### Signing of MoU with Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Nigerian government with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The signing ceremony, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was presided over by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, to formalize the year’s pilgrimage arrangements.
The approved airlines and cargo carriers are expected to facilitate a seamless Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims.
