NAHCON Confirms May 3rd Inaugural Flight, Lists States to Takeoff Immediately
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that Nigeria’s inaugural flight for the 2026 Hajj exercise will depart on May 3, 2026, marking the official commencement of the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The inaugural flight will depart from Gateway International Airport aboard FlyNas, marking a significant operational milestone for Ogun State.
Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director of Information and Publications at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement.
She explained that the development underscores the strategic utilisation of the newly constructed airport, as pilgrims from the state will, for the first time, depart directly from the state capital.
In parallel, the Commission has cleared multiple carriers for immediate deployment across designated routes on the same day.
According to the statement, Umza Aviation and Max Air will operate outbound flights from Abuja, conveying pilgrims from Kogi and Nasarawa States respectively.
Air Peace will airlift pilgrims from Oyo State via Lagos, while an additional FlyNas service will depart from Birnin Kebbi.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria will execute the airlift framework on a zonal basis, assigning each carrier to specific zones sequentially.
The Commission confirmed that once operations in a designated zone conclude, carriers will not return to that zone.
Consequently, pilgrims who miss their scheduled departures risk significant delays, including reassignment to subsequent flights and extended waiting periods pending regrouping.
The Commission further stressed strict adherence to the grouping structure, noting that all pilgrims must travel within their assigned clusters of 45 individuals.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria aligns each group with the issuance of Nusuk cards and ensures that the cards are pre-arranged and ready for pilgrims upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims should familiarise themselves with their group members ahead of departure. Intending pilgrims must secure and retain the contact details of their designated group leaders and accompanying state officials to ensure seamless coordination throughout the journey.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ismail Abba Yusuf, reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness for the 2026 Hajj exercise and confirmed that it has fully optimised all logistical, administrative, and operational frameworks to deliver a smooth and efficient pilgrimage process.
