Four airlines are chosen by the Nigerian government to perform the Hajj in 2025
The Federal Government has officially designated four airlines to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. This announcement was made by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, in a statement released by the Commission’s spokesperson, Fatima Usara, on Sunday.
The approved airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited. These carriers were selected after a thorough screening process that began in November 2024, during which 11 airlines submitted applications for the Hajj airlift.
According to Prof. Usman, the selection was ratified by the Presidency following a comprehensive evaluation by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee, inaugurated on November 26, 2024. This committee included representatives from:
- State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards
- Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) (3 members)
- 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 and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
- NAHCON Board members from each geopolitical zone
- NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties, and a Board Member representing the aviation industry
In addition to passenger airlines, three excess cargo carriers were approved for the 2025 Hajj operations: Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited, and Qualla Investment Limited.
Prof. Usman congratulated the selected airlines and cargo operators, urging them to fulfill their commitments as outlined during the screening process.
In a related development, Prof. Usman also signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. The signing ceremony took place on January 12, 2025, in Jeddah, solidifying Nigeria’s preparations for the pilgrimage.
The NAHCON Chairman was accompanied by key officials, including:
- 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 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
This MoU formalizes Nigeria’s collaboration with Saudi authorities for a smooth and successful 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
