. . . As NAHCON signs MoU with Saudi authorities

By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, on Sunday announced Presidency's approval of four airlines as official air carriers for pilgrims of the 2025 Hajj.

These carriers were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications for the airlift of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.

The selected airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited (in alphabetical order); as contained in a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publication, NAHCON on Sunday , January 12, 2025.

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 Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and one member each from 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 Nigerian Customs? Service (NCS) and 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 fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.

In a related development, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria.

The event was held on Sunday January 12, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalize the year?s Hajj engagements.

On the NHCON Chairman?s entourage were Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; Chairman House Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage Hon. Jafaru Muhammed Ali; Nigeria?s Charg? de Affairs in Riyadh, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo; Nigeria?s Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Mu?azzam I. J. Nayaya, and Ambassador Mahmud Lele from Foreign Affairs.

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

?PHOTO: NAHCON Chairman Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman signing the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria.

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