The presidency has approved Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited as official air carriers for pilgrims of the 2025 Hajj. This was disclosed by Abdullahi Saleh Usman, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

He said these carriers were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications for the airlift of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.  In a statement, Usman said the air carriers were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that was inaugurated by the NAHCON Chairman on 26th November 2024.

The composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included 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), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Similarly, one member each was drawn from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Others were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.

Similarly, three excess cargo carriers were selected for the year’s Hajj operations. They are Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited and Qualla Investment Limited (also in alphabetical order).

The Chairman congratulated the successful companies while urging them to fulfil their responsibilities as promised during the screening. In another development, Abdullahi Sale Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria.

The event was held on 12th January 2025 in Jeddah Saudi Arabia to formalize the year’s Hajj engagements. On the NAHCON Chairman’s entourage were Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs; Jafaru Muhammed Ali, Chairman of House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage; Ibrahim Modibbo, Nigeria’s Chargé de Affairs in Riyadh; Mu’azzam Nayaya, Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah,  and  Mahmud Lele from Foreign Affairs.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by Abdulfatah Masahat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah,  at the signing ceremony.