NAHCON Announces Conclusion of 2026 Hajj Return Airlift
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the successful conclusion of the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the completion of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission announced that the final flight conveying pilgrims from Zamfara State would arrive in Nigeria on June 23, bringing the return phase of the 2026 Hajj operations to a close.
According to NAHCON, the completion of the return airlift brings to a close a major national exercise that saw the successful transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to and from the Holy Land.
The Commission, however, revealed that 12 Nigerian pilgrims are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across Saudi Arabia for different health conditions.
It assured that it is closely monitoring their situations and has put necessary arrangements in place to facilitate their safe return to Nigeria immediately after they are discharged.
NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the overall success of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their unwavering support, which he said played a significant role in the successful conduct of the pilgrimage operation.
The Commission further appreciated the contributions of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, licensed tour operators, service providers, aviation partners, medical teams, security personnel, media organizations and Nigerian pilgrims for their cooperation throughout the exercise.
While acknowledging that some challenges arose during the operation, NAHCON noted that it had identified valuable lessons that would help strengthen future Hajj exercises.
