FG Approves Four Airlines for 2025 Hajj Operation


Abuja: The Federal Government has given the green light to four airlines as the official carriers for transporting pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage. The announcement was made by Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through a statement released by the commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Mrs. Fatima Usara.



According to News Agency of Nigeria, the selection of the four airlines was made from a pool of 11 companies that applied to transport Nigerian pilgrims. The approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia designated airline, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd. These airlines were chosen after a rigorous screening process conducted by a 32-member team inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024.



Prof. Usman detailed that the Aviation Screening Committee comprised representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and one member each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). In addition, members from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) were involved. The committee also included representatives from the Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).



Other key participants were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone, as well as NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties, and a Board Member representing the aviation industry. In addition to the passenger airlines, three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations: Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd, and Qualla Investment Ltd.



Prof. Usman congratulated the successful companies and urged them to uphold their commitments made during the screening process. In a related development, he signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, at the signing ceremony held in Jeddah. This event formalized the hajj engagements for the upcoming pilgrimage.