By Abdu Saidu, Kano
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has achieved two key milestones in preparation for the 2025 Hajj.
NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, announced the Presidency’s approval of four official airlines and signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Out of 11 contenders, Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited emerged as the official carriers for Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.
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These airlines were selected through a meticulous process overseen by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee inaugurated on 26th November 2024.
The committee included representatives from various sectors, including:
✓State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards
✓Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
✓Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
✓Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)
✓Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)
✓Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)
✓Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)
✓Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)
In addition to the main carriers, three companies were approved for the transportation of excess cargo: Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited, and Qualla Investment Limited.
Prof. Usman commended the successful companies and urged them to uphold their commitments throughout the 2025 Hajj season.
Prof. Usman, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the 2025 Hajj MoU in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 12th January 2025.
This formalized arrangements for the pilgrimage. The Nigerian delegation included high-ranking officials such as:
• Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Hon. Jafaru Muhammed Ali, Chairman, House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage
•Dr. Ibrahim Modibbo, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Riyadh
• Ambassador Mu’azzam I. J. Nayaya, Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah
•Ambassador Mahmud Lele
Representing Saudi Arabia was the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat.
These developments underscore NAHCON’s commitment to ensuring seamless and efficient operations for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
