Over 23,000 Nigerian Pilgrims Arrive in Makkah as Hajj Airlift Nears Completion

Over 23,000 Nigerian Pilgrims Arrive in Makkah as Hajj Airlift Nears Completion

 

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has transported 23,425 Nigerian pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah ahead of the commencement of the 2026 Hajj rites, as the nationwide airlift operation gathers momentum.

Figures released by NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre in Abuja showed that, as of Saturday night, a total of 31,844 Nigerian pilgrims had been airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 78 flights since the commencement of the outbound operation 14 days ago.

Of the total number already in Saudi Arabia, 23,425 pilgrims have successfully arrived in Makkah, while 8,419 remain in Madinah awaiting onward movement for the Hajj proper.

A report by Tribune Online indicated that 69 flights conveying 27,568 pilgrims landed in Madinah directly from various departure centres across Nigeria. Another nine flights carrying 4,276 pilgrims arrived in Jeddah, from where the pilgrims were subsequently transferred to Madinah before proceeding to Makkah.

The breakdown further revealed that 19,620 male pilgrims and 12,224 female pilgrims had so far been transported for the spiritual exercise.

NAHCON said Ekiti and Kogi states had completed 100 per cent airlift of their registered pilgrims, while Gombe, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba states had achieved 99 per cent completion.

Several other states recorded airlift levels ranging between 23 and 98 per cent. However, pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states, as well as the Armed Forces contingent, are yet to commence airlift operations.

According to the Commission, only 17 flights remain to conclude the transportation of the 40,250 pilgrims registered under the states’ quota and the Armed Forces for this year’s Hajj exercise.

Saudi Arabian authorities allocated 50,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for the 2026 pilgrimage, with the quota shared among state pilgrims welfare boards, the Armed Forces and licensed private tour operators.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has assured intending pilgrims that all registered Nigerians would be airlifted before the closure of Saudi airspace on May 21, ahead of the five-day Hajj rites expected to begin on May 25.