2026 Hajj: Kogi Concludes Airlift Operations as NAHCON Sustains Momentum
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Kogi State has successfully concluded the airlift of its intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, placing the state among the first to complete outbound pilgrimage operations under the ongoing national exercise.
Insights from the Hajj Gazette tracker show that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) fully deployed Kogi’s pilgrims through the Abuja zone, in line with its operational framework.
The exercise, coordinated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, progressed without reported disruptions, reflecting tighter scheduling discipline and improved logistics management.
The 2026 Hajj airlift commenced on May 3, with Umza Aviation Services flight UMZ3501 departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Madinah at 17:03hrs, conveying 473 pilgrims comprising 296 males and 177 females. This brings Kogi’s total airlift to 473 pilgrims across one flight.
In a related development, operational data from the NAHCON Command and Control Center in Abuja show that on May 3, 2026, authorities also airlifted pilgrims from Kebbi State on the same day.
Flynas flight XY8468 departed Kebbi for Madinah at 19:02hrs with 418 pilgrims, including 259 males and 159 females. The movement brings Kebbi’s total to 891 pilgrims airlifted across two flights.
The operational updates further show that Max Air flight VM3001 departed Abuja for Madinah at 21:12hrs with 560 pilgrims from Nasarawa State, comprising 381 males and 179 females.
Cumulatively, authorities have airlifted 1,451 pilgrims across three flights from the Abuja zone as of the close of operations on May 3.
NAHCON’s structured airlift model, anchored on cluster scheduling and strict manifest coordination continues to deliver early gains, with seamless departures and no reported operational disruptions in the initial phase.
With Kogi’s airlift now fully executed, the commission is expected to sustain the current tempo as more states progress toward completing their outbound pilgrim transportation within the scheduled timeframe.
