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, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Prof. Abdullahi Usman, NAHCON’s Executive Chairman, announced the selection in a statement issued by Mrs. Fatima Usara, the commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, on Sunday in Abuja.
The approved airlines—Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabian carrier), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.—were chosen from 11 companies that applied for the role.
Prof. Usman explained that the selection process was conducted by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee, inaugurated on Nov. 26, 2024. The committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Additional representatives included members of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and NAHCON board members representing each geopolitical zone, as well as officials from aviation, procurement, legal, and internal audit departments.
Three cargo carriers—Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargozeal Technology Ltd., and Qualla Investment Ltd.—were also approved for transporting excess luggage for the pilgrimage.
Prof. Usman urged the approved companies to meet their obligations as promised during the screening process.
Meanwhile, the NAHCON chairman has signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian government. The signing, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, formalized preparations for this year’s Hajj. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by Dr. Abdulfatah Masahat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
