Umza Aviation Services, in partnership with Aero Contractors, one of the airlines approved by the Federal Government to transport Nigerians prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia has began operation on Friday in Abuja.
The airline departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 19:32 hours with 288 male and 175 female pilgrims, with 13 officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Nigerian hajj regulatory body had allocated no fewer than 8,033 prospective pilgrims to Aero Contractors to transport them to Saudi Arabia and back to Nigeria after the end of 2023 hajj rituals.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the flight took off, Alhaji Liman Mohammad, Head of Human Resources, Administration, Hajj and Umrah for the Umza Aviation and Officer, Coordinating 2023 Hajj for Aero Contractors, assured of a hitch-free operation.
” We bade for hajj and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria allocated 8,033 pilgrims for us. They are the pilgrims of Nasarawa, Oyo, Adamawa and Taraba States.
He said: ” The operation is starting with the Nasarawa pilgrims at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, we have carried 463 passengers comprising Nasarawa pilgrims and officials of NAHCON.
” The aircraft is going and coming back immediately for the second flight. Continuously, that is how we will do the operation until we finish Nasarawa with six flight operations.
”Then we will move to Lagos and Oyo State has about 1500 pilgrims. We will give them five flights and join the remaining pilgrims with those of Adamawa.”
Mohammad said that Adamawa and Taraba States operation would cover about eight flights which would mark the end of the operation.
He said: ” You have seen the machine that we are using 747, with capacity of 479 passengers and God willing, on June 12, we will be able to transport all the pilgrims allocated to us.”
Mohammad that Aero Contractors and Umza Aviation Services were in partnership for the 2023 hajj operation.
He said that Aero would provide the technical aspects of the operation, while Umza would provide the financial aspect.
Mohammad added: ” We have an understanding between the two of us and we informed NAHCON, which they took notice of that.”
