The airlift impasse threatening Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 Hajj has been successfully resolved following high-level diplomatic intervention, clearing the way for all Nigerian airlines to land in Saudi Arabia.
The breakthrough came after days of tension, during which Saudi authorities had withheld landing permits from Nigerian carriers over the enforcement of a bilateral air agreement mandating a 50-50 passenger split with Saudi airlines.
According to sources within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the resolution followed coordinated efforts by key government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Aviation, the Vice President, Chief of Staff, and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), among others.
“This was a collective effort, and we are grateful to all involved,” a NAHCON official told Hajj Reporters. “All Nigerian airlines approved for the Hajj airlift have now been granted landing permits.”
Earlier in the day, Max Air had been the only Nigerian carrier cleared to operate, prompting NAHCON to contemplate of deploying it to airlift Imo State pilgrims. With the broader clearance now secured, normal flight operations are expected to resume for pilgrims from other states.
The resolution brings relief to thousands of Nigerian pilgrims whose participation in this year’s Hajj had hung in the balance.
