BREAKING: FG Approves 4 Airlines For 2025 Hajj Operation—-The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.

Usman explained that the four airlines were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Muslims pilgrimage.

According to Usman, the four approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia designated airline, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.

The NAHCON boss stated that the airlines were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that were inaugurated by the NAHCON on Nov. 26, 2024.

He said that 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 the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

He also said that some members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Similarly, Prof. Usman said that one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Others, he listed, 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.

The NAHCON boss also disclosed that three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations.

He named them to include; Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd and Qualla Investment Ltd.,

The Chairman, who congratulated the successful companies, urged them to fulfill their responsibilities as promised during the screening.

Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

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

The event was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalise this year’s Hajj engagements.

2025 Will Be Greater For Nigerians- Primate Ndukuba—-The Primate Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, says 2025 will be a better year for Nigerians.

Ndukuba made the assertion at a news conference on the state of the nation on Monday in Abuja.

He said that though 2024 was a challenging year for Nigerians, the country would reap many benefits from its present situation in the year 2025.

He said that the removal of fuel subsidy, increase in oil prices, hyperinflation in food prices, and the financial difficulties, no doubt made 2024 more challenging than 2023.

He, however, likened the challenges to the pain of childbearing that comes with much joy at the end of the day.

Ndukuba commended the country’s fiscal and economic managers, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for striving to ensure stability in the country’s economy.

He also commended Nigerians’ resilience, hope, prayers, endurance, and perseverance, even under the weight of economic hardship and insecurity.

“If you will ask me about 2024, I will say that 2025 will be better and greater than 2024. What we have experienced and seen this year is part of the process of bringing us to where we are going.

“That will not mean that in 2025, there will be no challenges. The challenges will still be there. But, what we trust God is that the solution will begin to play out.

“We will begin to reap much more of what has been sown this year, and there will be better stability.

“Not only in the terms of our value for our naira, but also in fuel pump prices and also some of the micro and macroeconomic policies that are already being put in place will begin to play out,’’ he said.

Ndukuba, however, urged the country to tackle the issues of greed and corruption if the country must enjoy the good tiding of 2025.

On the Christmas celebration, Ndukuba advised Nigerian Christians to celebrate with moderation in line with the economic reality.

According to him, Christian faithful should avoid squandering all they gathered throughout the year in the name of celebrating Christmas.

He rather stressed on the need to celebrate the season with Christ in their heart by supporting, and sharing with one another with the love of God, especially the less privileged in the society.

“In whatever we do, whether we eat or we drink, it must be done in moderation. Let us not indulge in things that will dishonour God or dishonour our dignity as human beings.

“We know that the situation in Nigeria today is so dire and challenging that some families may not even have the usual rice and the food and meat to celebrate. So whatever we have, let’s share with others,’’ he said.

Ndukuba also urged Nigerians to use the season of Christmas to foster reconnection between the leaders and the followers.

“There is so much for us to learn from the lessons of Christmas, both the followers and leaders.

“The leaders must learn to love and appreciate the citizens as well cherish the fact that the opportunity given to them is for a purpose.

“It is for the good of the common man and not an opportunity for them to amass as much as they could,’’ he said.

He said that the poverty in the country was not because “Nigeria is poor’’ but a demonstration of greed manifesting in corruption.

“Unless we kill it, no matter our religiosity, Nigeria will remain a country that is almost being vandalised.

“But we are trusting God that there will be a turnaround and a change of heart,’’ Ndukuba said.