The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has assured that the inbound airlift of pilgrims to Nigeria will not exceed the time limit stipulated by the Saudi Arabian authorities. This assurance was given on Saturday amid growing concerns over the slow pace of return flight operations, which have left approximately 21,541 pilgrims waiting to return home after a successful pilgrimage.
States Yet to Begin Return Flights
According to NAHCON, 19 states, including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, and the Armed Forces, among others, are yet to commence the conveyance of their pilgrims back to Nigeria. In a release issued on Saturday, the commission explained that the return schedule is determined by the airlift slots secured by the designated airlines from the relevant Saudi aviation authorities.
Adherence to 19-Day Agreement
NAHCON insisted that the designated carriers have been warned to adhere strictly to the 19-day agreement entered into to complete the inbound flight operations. The commission made it clear that it will not hesitate to invoke a contingency rescue plan should any of the four national designated carriers fail to meet the agreement.
NAHCON advised Max Air, Flynas, Air Peace, and Umza Air, the designated carriers, to take measures to complete the airlift within the agreed 19-day window, which covers pilgrims' accommodation, feeding, transport, and medical services.
Current Status of Return Airlifts
As of the time of this report, a total of 17,347 pilgrims have been transported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria. Some states have successfully concluded the return journey of their pilgrims, while others have reached various stages of completion.
States that have completed their return airlift include Nasarawa, Gombe, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Jigawa, Kwara, and Plateau. Lagos, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have achieved between 65% and 80% completion.
However, some states are yet to commence their return flights due to NAHCON's policy of first-in-first-out enforced on each airline. For instance, pilgrims from the South-South states departed Nigeria on 19th May 2026, while Kano pilgrims commenced their outbound airlift on 16th May 2026, and Kaduna pilgrims on 14th May 2026.
States Yet to Begin Return Journey
States yet to begin the return journey are Adamawa, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara states. As for Adamawa and Taraba states, which began their airlift fairly early, their official carrier is still airlifting its allocated pilgrims proportionate to its secured airlift slots.
Chairman's Assurance
The commission's Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, assured all pilgrims, their families, and the general public of the timely return of every Nigerian pilgrim. He added that no Nigerian pilgrims will be left beyond the stipulated deadline in Saudi Arabia.
Kano Amirul Hajj's Concerns
Recall that Kano Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Alh. Aliyu Abubakar, led the state delegation to the Umuljud headquarters of the commission, demanding a quick return of about 3,600 pilgrims back to Nigeria. The traditional ruler lamented what he considered as unfair treatment of Kano contingents during the outbound flight to Saudi Arabia, urging the commission to consider an accelerated airlift of Kano pilgrims back home.
The airlift of pilgrims from Kano commenced on May 15, 2026, exactly one week before the closure of Saudi airspace to incoming Hajj pilgrims. A flight schedule originally designed to complete the transportation of Kano pilgrims within four days eventually stretched to seven days. The delayed arrival inadvertently affected the pilgrims' spiritual activities in Madinah, forcing many of them to shorten their stay in the Prophet's City instead of observing the recommended three-day period.
