The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially commenced the repatriation of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, with 1,310 pilgrims already airlifted back to various states across the country.
NAHCON’s Principal Information Officer, Shafii Mohammed, confirmed that four flights have successfully completed their return journeys, marking the start of the nationwide effort to bring home the over 63,000 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2025 Hajj exercise.
According to Mohammed, the first return flight was MaxAir’s VM269, which departed from Jeddah at 8:07 a.m. en route to Bauchi, carrying 551 pilgrims alongside seven officials. Shortly after, Flynas flight XY9006 took off at 9:45 a.m., transporting 413 pilgrims and six officials to Kebbi.
Later in the day, UMZA flight UY3534 left Jeddah for Abuja at 1:12 p.m., carrying 41 pilgrims and 122 officials. Rounding off the day’s operations, Air Peace flight APK7901 departed at 11:45 p.m. with 305 pilgrims and seven officials bound for Owerri.
These early flights mark the beginning of NAHCON’s carefully coordinated efforts to ensure the safe and orderly return of Nigerian pilgrims, who had completed the religious rites in Saudi Arabia.
The commission continues to liaise with various airline operators and relevant authorities to facilitate the smooth return of all pilgrims in the coming weeks, adhering to strict safety protocols amid the ongoing Hajj season.
