The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially finished the return airlift for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. This marks the end of one of Nigeria's biggest annual religious events.
The last group of Nigerian pilgrims, which included pilgrims and officials from Zamfara State, left Jeddah on MaxAir flight VM2014 on Tuesday, 23 June, at 2:10 p.m. local time. They are expected to reach Gusau later the same day.
Data from the commission’s Command and Control Centre shows that this final flight carried 149 pilgrims and 28 officials from Zamfara State. This brings the total number of pilgrims and officials airlifted back to Nigeria to 38,052 through 97 return flights.
Completing this return journey closes the 2026 Hajj operations. This operation involved moving thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Successful end to months of hard work
The 2026 Hajj airlift began with sending pilgrims from different states in Nigeria to Madinah and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This was followed by the return phase after pilgrims completed their Hajj rites in Makkah and the nearby holy sites.
Even with the scale of the operation, NAHCON worked well with state pilgrims’ welfare boards, airlines, healthcare providers, security agencies, and Saudi authorities to make sure pilgrims moved smoothly during the operation.
Observers have noted that the 2026 Hajj operation showed better coordination in logistics, accommodation, and pilgrim welfare services. Still, some challenges common to large-scale flights were also seen.
Twelve pilgrims still receiving medical care
While celebrating the end of the return airlift, the commission revealed that 12 Nigerian pilgrims are still in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. They are getting treatment for different health issues.
NAHCON promised that it is keeping a close eye on their health and has made plans to bring them back to Nigeria as soon as they are discharged by doctors.
Yusuf thanks Tinubu, Shettima, and others
After the successful completion of the exercise, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ismail Yusuf, thanked Almighty Allah for the success of the 2026 Hajj season.
Mr Yusuf also praised President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their strong support, which he said helped the pilgrimage go smoothly.
The chairman also recognized the hard work of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, licensed tour operators, service providers, aviation partners, medical teams, security personnel, and media organizations for their dedication throughout the operation.
He gave special thanks to Nigerian pilgrims for their patience, discipline, and willingness to follow guidelines, which contributed to the success of the exercise.
Planning for 2027 Hajj already started
As the 2026 Hajj exercise wraps up, NAHCON has officially started preparations for the 1448AH/2027 Hajj season.
The commission shared that a circular dated 15 June, titled, “Commencement of Preparations for 1448H/2027 Hajj Season,” has been sent to all Hajj managers in the country.
Signed by NAHCON Secretary, Mustapha Ali, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO, the note tells State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies, and licensed private tour operators to start preparatory activities right away according to the guidelines from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Starting these plans early is expected to give stakeholders enough time to fix operational issues, meet Saudi deadlines, and provide a better pilgrimage experience for Nigerian pilgrims in 2027.
With the last flight completed and preparations for the next season already in progress, NAHCON says it is committed to enhancing Hajj management and keeping Nigeria’s status as one of the top countries for Hajj participation in the world.
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