Northern Nigerian Breaking News

2025 Hajj: NAHCON inaugurates 32-man screening, aviation monitoring committee

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has inaugurated a 32-man screening, aviation monitoring committee for 2025 Hajj air-carriers and cargo conveyers.

Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, said this in a statement by Mrs Fatima Usara, the commission’s Assistant Director Public Affairs, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Usman described the inauguration of the committee as an important activity that demanded commitment due to the magnitude of work involved and its significance to the success of hajj operations.

The NAHCON boss, therefore, urged members of the committee to work within the terms of reference towards providing excellent services to pilgrims.

Read Also: 2024 Hajj:” We’re expected to work for 40 days in Saudi Arabia with allowance payment of 21 days- NAHCON staff lament

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“Also inaugurated was a six-man secretariat for the committee. The inauguration was followed by Opening of Application Forms for the Issuance of Hajj Licence for the transportation of the 2025 pilgrims from Nigeria.

“This sets the pace for series of activities that will culminate in the selection of pilgrims’ air carriers as well as excess luggage freighters for the 2025 Hajj exercise,” he said.

The NAHCON boss said the committee, chaired by Mr Anofi Elegushi, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Inspection and Licensing (OILS), also had several aviation industry managers, stakeholders from the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, representative of the Presidency, Security Agencies and NAHCON staff as members.

Usman explained that the committee had five representatives of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and three from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He said it also had 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).

Usman added that the Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) had one member each.

“Others are: 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.

“Eleven airlines, including two from Saudi Arabia sent applications indicating interest in the airlift of pilgrims for this year’s hajj. From Saudi Arabia under the airlift bilateral agreement are FlyNas and Flyadeal.

“Nine applications are from Nigerian airline companies; they are Air Peace, GYRO Air L.td, Max Air L.td, Nahco Aviance, Tarco Aviation, Umra Airline L.td standing for Ethiopian Airlines, UMZA Aviation Services L.td, Value Jet and Trebet Aviation Ltd.,” he stated.

He said five cargo companies – Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd., Cargo Zeal Technologies, Qualla Investment, Kiswah Logistics Services Ltd., and Sokodeke Global Travels and Cargo – applied for excess luggage transportation.

He said the committee would screen the prospective carriers that applied for license to airlift pilgrims and those for excess luggage in respect of the 2025 hajj.

Usman also said that the committee would decline the screening of any applicant whose status or documents were at variance with the conditions of application as stated in the adverts and application form.

“The committee will determine the suitability and capability of the applicants in line with the extant Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations and ICAO standards and recommended practices.

“It will establish criteria, score or grade for suitability and for the recommendation of an applicant and recommend minimum standards of operation in accordance with industry best practices by the prequalified companies;

“It will recommend appropriate pilgrim airfare and excess luggage rate for the specified departure zones and make any other recommendations necessary for the efficient conduct of 2025 hajj transportation,” he said.

Similarly, the NAHCON boss said the aviation monitoring committee would constitute a subcommittee to review and evaluate all documents to be submitted by applicant airlines in respect of 2025 hajj.

“It will inspect and assess the readiness of the airports being considered for the 2025 hajj operation and make specific and general observations/recommendations arising from above.

“It will monitor all inbound and out bound flights at all departure centres to check compliance with the airlift agreement and industry standards,” he said.

Responding, Elegushi called on members to ready to work day and night in order to conclude their assignment within the timeframe allotted.

He reminded them of the crucial place aviation occupies in the operation of hajj and assured all stakeholders that the screening would be conducted in a very transparent manner. (NAN)

 

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