NAHCON Sets May 9 for 2025 Inaugural Hajj Flight as Airlift Plans Finalized for 43,000 Pilgrims
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially announced May 9, 2025, as the date for the inaugural airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise.
The decision was reached during a strategic meeting held on Monday, April 22, 2025, between NAHCON and Executive Secretaries of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards under the Forum of States.
In his opening remarks, NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullah Saleh Usman, emphasized that the Hajj industry is in the final stages of preparation.
He urged all participating states to update the Commission on their readiness, including visa processing, vaccination, procurement of travel bags, and other logistics.
Highlighting the airlift arrangements, the Honourable Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, revealed that Air Peace will airlift 5,128 pilgrims from states including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba. FlyNas has been allocated 12,506 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The airline will deploy nine aircraft for the operation.
Max Air will transport 15,203 pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Plateau states using two aircraft — a B747 with 400 seats and another with 560-seat capacity — with airlifts expected to conclude by May 24.
Umza Aviation will handle 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe, using two aircraft — a B747 (477 seats) and a B777 (310 seats).
The total airlift figure stands at 43,000 Nigerian pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj season. The Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information & Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal, provided an update on medical preparations, revealing that clinics have been secured in Makkah and Madinah.
He also announced the distribution of Yellow Cards to states and issued a strong reminder not to include pregnant women in the Hajj delegation.
The meeting concluded with a consensus to commence outbound flights on May 9 and complete them by May 24, while inbound return flights are scheduled to begin on June 13 and wrap up by July 2.
The statement was issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Information & Publications, on behalf of the NAHCON Chairman.
