By Olugbenyga Salami
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON on Tuesday 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 Hajj licence for 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 commission’s 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 include five representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three 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 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.