The return of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia has reached its 10th day. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says the operation is going well.
As of Saturday, 17,347 pilgrims have returned to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia. This follows the return-flight slots given to the airlines involved.
In a statement on Saturday, NAHCON said nine states have finished bringing back their pilgrims. These states are Nasarawa, Gombe, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Jigawa, Kwara, and Plateau.
The commission added that Lagos, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have completed between 65 and 80 percent of their return operations.
About 40,000 Nigerians took part in the 2026 Hajj.
States yet to start return flights
NAHCON explained that some states have not started their return flights. This is due to its first-in-first-out rule. This means the order of departures from Saudi Arabia relates to when pilgrims arrived for the Hajj.
“For instance, pilgrims from the South-south states left Nigeria on 19 May. Kano pilgrims started their journey on 16 May, and Kaduna pilgrims left on 14 May.
“States that have not started return operations include Adamawa, the Armed Forces contingent, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.”
The commission noted that while Adamawa and Taraba started their outbound airlift early, their airline is still transporting pilgrims based on the flight slots assigned to it.
NAHCON warns airlines
NAHCON stressed that the return schedule mainly depends on the airlift slots each airline secured. It has directed all airlines to finish the operation within the agreed 19-day period.
The commission said this timeline was planned carefully to cover pilgrims’ accommodation, feeding, transportation, and medical services during their stay in the Kingdom.
It warned that backup plans would be activated if any airline fails to meet its obligations and timelines.
Chairman assures timely return
The Chairman of NAHCON, Ismail Yusuf, assured pilgrims, their families, and the public that every Nigerian pilgrim will return home safely and on time.
“All Nigerian pilgrims will be airlifted back home well before the Saudi deadline for the departure of pilgrims, which is on 30 June 2026,” he said.
Pilgrims commend NAHCON
Many returning pilgrims who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES praised NAHCON and its chairman for what they called better organization, support, and communication during the 2026 Hajj.
A pilgrim from Nasarawa State, Gimba Abdullahi, said the return process has been smooth and well organized.
“We were kept informed at every stage of the journey. From Makkah to Madinah and now our return home, there was clear communication and support. We appreciate NAHCON for the effort,” he said.
Bilkisu Ibrahim from Kwara State also praised the commission for focusing on pilgrims’ welfare.
“The return process has been orderly and stress-free,” she said.
Another pilgrim from Oyo State, Alkali Yusuf, commended Mr Yusuf for his leadership during the exercise.
“The chairman has shown commitment and concern for pilgrims. We have seen improvements in coordination and responsiveness. We pray that these gains will be maintained in future Hajj operations,” he said.
With over 17,000 pilgrims already back and many states close to finishing, the commission says it is on track to complete the operation before the deadline set by Saudi authorities.
NAHCON thanked pilgrims, their families, airlines, and others for their cooperation and promised to keep providing updates on the ongoing return airlift.
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