The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the successful airlift of 36,359 Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj exercise, with 5,494 pilgrims under the government quota still awaiting airlift.
According to the Commission, airlift operations are in the final phase, with Air Peace expected to conclude its Hajj flights on Friday, May 24, having secured a slot to finalize its operations. UMZA Aviation will also wrap up its airlifts from Kaduna on the same date, with three flights left to complete its quota.
Max Air, one of the leading operators in the exercise, will finish its operations on May 25. The airline received an extension due to a surge in the number of late-registered pilgrims from the states assigned to it.
In a special arrangement, FlyNas, the Saudi-based airline, is scheduled to complete its operations on May 30. The final FlyNas flight will carry a full complement of pilgrims, including the Governor of Kebbi State.
To ensure all pilgrims are airlifted in time, NAHCON has arranged mop-up flights on May 24, with UMZA operating from Kaduna, Air Peace from Abuja, and Max Air from Kano. Max Air’s final flight will depart from Katsina on May 25.
Meanwhile, the Commission has addressed concerns surrounding the issuance of the Nusuk card a mandatory identification for Hajj pilgrims. NAHCON urged pilgrims yet to receive their cards to remain calm, assured that distribution is ongoing. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has directed its service providers to resolve all outstanding issues promptly, and NAHCON is monitoring compliance closely.
It will be recalled that NAHCON earlier secured 2,800 VIP bed spaces at the Tent A+ facility through its service provider, Rawaf Mina. This remain the only VIP accommodation available for this year’s Hajj, with allocation to interested pilgrims still in progress.
The Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, expressed gratitude to Allah for the successes recorded so far and commended all stakeholders for their contributions. He also lauded the patience and orderly conduct of the intending pilgrims throughout the exercise.
