The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement.
The statement was signed by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
Usman explained that the four airlines were selected out of the 11 that submitted applications to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
According to Usman, the four approved airlines are Air Peace Limited; Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia designated airline; Max Air; and UMZA Aviation Services Limited.
The NAHCON boss stated that the airlines were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that were inaugurated by the NAHCON on November 26, 2024.
He said that the composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and one member from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
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He also said that some members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
Similarly, Prof. Usman said that one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
Others, he listed, were NAHCON Board members representing each geopolitical zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.
The NAHCON boss also disclosed that three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations.
He named them to include Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited, and Qualla Investment Limited.
The Chairman, who congratulated the successful companies, urged them to fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman has 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.
The event was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalise this year’s Hajj engagements.
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