Federal Government Selects Four Airlines for 2025 Hajj Airlift Operations

Baatunji Wusu –

• Four airlines have been selected to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj.
• The selected airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited.
• The selection followed a rigorous process with 11 airlines applying, and a 32-member committee overseeing the evaluation.
• NAHCON also chose three companies for excess cargo handling for the Hajj.
• The 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian government has officially designated four airlines for the transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Usman, in a statement released on Sunday. The chosen airlines—Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited—were selected after a thorough vetting process involving 11 applicants.

This selection follows a meticulous screening process initiated by NAHCON in November 2024. A 32-member committee, formed to oversee the evaluation of the airlines, was responsible for shortlisting the successful carriers. The committee comprised representatives from several agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), among others.

Additionally, three companies—Aglow Aviation Support Services Limited, Cargozeal Technology Limited, and Qualla Investment Limited—were selected to manage excess cargo during the Hajj operations.

In a related development, NAHCON Chairman Abdullahi Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia in a ceremony held in Jeddah on January 12, 2025. This formal agreement solidifies the arrangements for Nigeria’s participation in the Hajj pilgrimage for the year.

The signing ceremony was attended by key Nigerian officials, including members of the National Assembly and representatives from Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia.