Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has officially concluded the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the curtain down on the 2026 Hajj exercise, one of the country's largest annual religious operations. The final flight, carrying pilgrims from Zamfara State, departed Jeddah aboard MaxAir flight VM2014 on Tuesday, June 23, at 2:10 p.m. local time and was expected to arrive in Gusau later in the day. According to data from the commission's Command and Control Centre, the concluding flight conveyed 149 pilgrims and 28 officials from Zamfara State, bringing the total number of pilgrims and officials airlifted back to Nigeria to 38,052 through 97 return flights.
A statement issued by NAHCON's spokesperson, Hajia Fatimah Usara, confirmed that the completion of the return leg marked the end of a major national exercise that involved the successful transportation of thousands of Nigerian pilgrims to and from the holy sites in Saudi Arabia. The operation required extensive coordination among various stakeholders, including aviation partners, state pilgrims' welfare boards, tour operators, medical teams, security agencies, and service providers. Despite the scale and complexity of the exercise, NAHCON successfully coordinated with Saudi authorities and domestic partners to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage season. Industry observers have noted that the 2026 Hajj operation witnessed improvements in logistics coordination, accommodation management, and pilgrim welfare services, although some operational challenges typical of large-scale international pilgrimages were recorded.
While celebrating the successful conclusion of the return airlift, the commission disclosed that 12 Nigerian pilgrims remain hospitalised in Saudi Arabia, where they are receiving treatment for various health conditions. NAHCON assured that it is closely monitoring their situations and has made arrangements to facilitate their safe return to Nigeria as soon as they are discharged by medical authorities. The commission acknowledged that some challenges were encountered during the exercise but noted that valuable lessons had been learnt and would be applied to improve future Hajj operations.
Reacting to the successful completion of the exercise, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the overall success recorded during the 2026 Hajj season. Yusuf also commended President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their unwavering support, which he said contributed significantly to the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. The chairman further praised the efforts of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, licensed tour operators, service providers, aviation partners, medical teams, security personnel, and media organisations for their dedication and cooperation throughout the operation. He reserved special appreciation for Nigerian pilgrims, whose patience, discipline, and adherence to guidelines helped ensure the success of the exercise.
Even as the 2026 exercise comes to an end, NAHCON has formally commenced preparations for the 1448H/2027 Hajj season. The directive was communicated to all Hajj managers nationwide through a circular dated June 15, 2026, titled "Commencement of Preparations for 1448H/2027 Hajj Season," and signed by the commission's secretary, Mustapha Muhammad Ali, on behalf of the chairman. Consequently, State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies, commissions, and licensed private tour operators have been directed to immediately begin preparatory activities in strict compliance with the official preparation guidelines for the 2027 Hajj season as received from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The early commencement of preparations underscores NAHCON's commitment to continuous improvement and early planning, ensuring that lessons learned from the 2026 exercise are applied to enhance service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims in the years ahead.
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