The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON)on Tuesday, 26 November, 2024 in Abuja inaugurated a 32-man Screening/Aviation Monitoring Committee for 2025 Hajj air carriers and cargo conveyors as well as a six-man secretariat for the committee.
This was even as the commission opened application forms for the Issuance of a Hajj licence for the airlift of the 2025 pilgrims from Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, this sets the pace for a series of activities that will culminate in the selection of pilgrims’ air carriers as well as excess luggage freighters for next year’s Hajj exercise.
The committee, chaired by the Commissioner of Operations, Inspection and Licensing, OILS, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi draws membership from several aviation industry managers as well as stakeholders from the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, representatives from the Presidency, security agencies and NAHCON staff.
The composition of the committees includes five representatives from the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three 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 Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC as well as NAHCON board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, Special Duties and the board member representing the àviation industry.
The statement added that 11 airlines, including two from Saudi Arabia, sent applications indicating interest in the airlift of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
In his opening remarks, the NAHCON chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman described the inauguration as an important activity that demands commitment due to the magnitude of work involved and its significance to successful operations.
He, therefore, urged the members to work within the terms of reference towards providing excellent services to pilgrims.
In his submission, the committee chairman called on members to be ready to work day and night in order to conclude their assignment within the timeframe allotted, reminding them of the crucial place aviation occupies in the operation of Hajj.
Elegushi assured all stakeholders that the screening would be conducted in a very transparent manner while seeking their support to reach the goal of the screening and monitoring successfully.
The Commissioner described last year’s Hajj airlift as successful having concluded both the outbound and inbound flights earlier than slated, promising to replicate the feat and even surpass it in 2025.
