2026 Hajj: Nigeria Records 33% Airlift Completion as 13,104 Pilgrims Arrive Saudi Arabia
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Nigeria has achieved 33 per cent progress in its 2026 Hajj airlift operation, with a total of 13,104 intending pilgrims successfully transported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The latest figures were obtained from the 2026 Hajj Tracker published by Hajj Gazette, which monitors the movement of Nigerian pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage exercise.
The development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing nationwide airlift coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in collaboration with state pilgrims’ welfare boards and approved airlines.
The tracker showed that multiple flights from designated departure centres across the country have transported the pilgrims since the commencement of the exercise.
Analysis of the airlift data showed that male pilgrims account for the majority of those already transported to Saudi Arabia, while female pilgrims also constitute a substantial portion of the total figure.
The breakdown reflects the steady movement of intending pilgrims from various states participating in the 2026 Hajj exercise.
The ongoing operation will continue in phases until authorities airlift all registered Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia ahead of the commencement of Hajj rites.
NAHCON had earlier assured pilgrims of adequate arrangements to ensure smooth, safe, and timely transportation throughout the exercise.
