Abuja: The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has recorded the return airlift of 17,347 Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of its ongoing post-Hajj operations.
In its latest airlift operations update, the commission also confirmed that nine states have fully completed the return of their pilgrims.
The states that have concluded the exercise are Nasarawa, Gombe, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Jigawa, Kwara, and Plateau.
It further disclosed that Lagos, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have recorded between 65 per cent and 80 per cent completion of their return airlift.
According to NAHCON, the return operation is now in its tenth day and is progressing steadily in line with the flight slots allocated to each approved carrier.
“As at the time of this report, a total of 17,347 pilgrims have been transported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria,” the commission said.
It added that while some states have completed their return journey, others are at various stages of completion in line with the approved schedule.
NAHCON explained that the sequencing of the airlift is guided by a first-in-first-out policy implemented across designated airlines.
It noted that pilgrims from South-South states departed Nigeria on May 19, 2026, while Kano pilgrims began outbound operations on May 16 and Kaduna pilgrims on May 14.
States yet to commence return flights include Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara, as well as the Armed Forces contingent.
The commission clarified that some states, including Adamawa and Taraba, which began early outbound operations, are still being airlifted based on their allocated flight slots.
NAHCON said the return schedule is strictly determined by airline capacity and secured flight allocations.
It urged airlines to ensure timely completion of the exercise within the agreed 19-day window covering accommodation, feeding, transport, and medical arrangements for pilgrims.
“As backed by contractual agreements, the commission will implement contingency rescue plans if it becomes evident that any airline cannot meet the schedule,” it warned.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Amb. Ismail Yusuf assured pilgrims, their families, and the public of the safe and timely return of all Nigerian pilgrims.
He said all pilgrims would be airlifted back before the Saudi deadline for departure, set for the 15th of Muharram, corresponding to June 30 in the Gregorian calendar.
NAHCON appreciated the cooperation of pilgrims, airlines, and other stakeholders, adding that it would continue to provide regular updates on the return airlift exercise.