The Nigerian government has approved four airlines to streamline air travel for Nigerian pilgrims attending the 202 Hajj. The announcement was made known by Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the Commission’s Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Sunday.
Following a rigorous selection process, the following airlines have been granted approval: Air Peace Ltd, Fly-Nas – A Saudi Arabian-designated airline, Max Air and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.
These airlines were chosen from a pool of 11 applicants who expressed interest in transporting Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The screening and shortlisting of the airlines were conducted by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee, inaugurated on November 26, 2024. The committee included representatives from:
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- 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)
Additional members were drawn from NAHCON’s Board, with representation from each geo-political zone, as well as NAHCON’s departments of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, and Special Duties.
In addition to the passenger airlines, three companies have been approved to handle excess cargo for the pilgrimage: Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd and Qualla Investment Ltd.
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Prof. Usman congratulated the successful companies and urged them to fulfill the commitments they made during the screening process. He emphasized the importance of efficient service delivery to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for all Nigerian pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman has also signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
The MoU formalizes this year’s Hajj engagements and reflects the collaboration between both nations. The signing ceremony took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Arabia represented by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
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