2027 Hajj: NCAA Flags Lessons from Previous Airlift Operations
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun review of previous Hajj airlift operations as part of efforts to address operational challenges and improve the safety and efficiency of the 2027 pilgrimage.
The review formed part of a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NCAA on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at its corporate headquarters in Abuja to assess previous operations and commence preparations for the 2027 Hajj airlift.
Representing the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards and Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Ahmad Abba, mni, said the authority was committed to working with relevant stakeholders to identify gaps from previous operations and address them ahead of the next pilgrimage.
He said the objective was to ensure that lessons from previous Hajj airlift operations were translated into practical measures that would deliver safer, more efficient and better-coordinated operations in 2027.
The Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, highlighted key challenges recorded during previous Hajj operations while providing updates on emerging changes in Saudi Arabia’s Hajj arrangements.
2027 Hajj: NCAA Flags Lessons from Previous Airlift Operations
Elegushi also briefed stakeholders on the proposed Saudi policy for the allocation of 98 per cent of pilgrims to tour operators and the arrangements for allocating Nigerian states to airlines for the 2027 Hajj airlift.
The development adds a new dimension to preparations for the next pilgrimage, with aviation regulators, Hajj authorities, state pilgrim agencies and airlines expected to coordinate their operations ahead of the airlift.
The meeting also featured briefings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and participating Hajj airlines.
The airlines represented were Saudi Air, Flynas, Air Peace, Max Air and UMZA.
The NCAA said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration among aviation and Hajj stakeholders and ensure that identified challenges from previous operations are addressed before the commencement of the 2027 pilgrimage.
Other NCAA officials at the meeting included the General Manager, Statistics, Research and Development, Maryam Ismail; Deputy General Manager, Cost Recovery, Alhassan Balarabe; Flight Operations Inspector, Captain Ibrahim Yunusa; and other senior officials.
