The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims for a smooth and successful 2026 Hajj exercise.
The Chairman of NAHCON, Ismail Abba Yusuf, made this known at the 2026 Hajj inaugural flight ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where 473 pilgrims from Kogi State were airlifted.
“Today, we witness the inaugural flight for the 2026 Hajj, conveying a contingent of about 500 Kogi pilgrims to Medina. This marks the beginning of the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia,” he said.
READ ALSO: NAHCON Signs 2026 Hajj Service Agreement
Yusuf expressed optimism that the seamless process recorded during the inaugural flight would be sustained throughout the exercise.
“To ensure the comfort and safety of our pilgrims, the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, has facilitated the provision of Basic Travel Allowance at concessionary rates. Medical centres have also been established close to pilgrims’ accommodation in Mecca and Medina,” he added.
According to him, approximately 150 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, have been deployed and adequately equipped to cater to the health needs of Nigerian pilgrims.
He further stated that accommodation, transportation, and feeding arrangements for pilgrims have been upgraded to high standards.
On the issue of rising aviation fuel costs, the NAHCON chairman disclosed that the commission has made representations to the government in response to the following concerns raised by airlines about potential losses.
He revealed that Nigeria has a total of 50,000 pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj. Of this number, 9,750 slots were allocated to private tour operators, while 40,250 pilgrims will travel through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards under federal supervision.
In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and avoid actions that could tarnish the country’s image.
Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, commended NAHCON for its efforts in ensuring a smooth Hajj operation. Represented by the Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, he called on the pilgrims to pray for peace and unity in Nigeria.
After the Inaugural flight, MaxAir flight VM3001 departed Abuja for Madinah at 21:12 hours with 560 Nasarawa pilgrims.
M=381, F=179
Total Airlifts=1,451
Total Flights=03
Thereafter, MaxAir flight VM260 departed Ogun to Jeddah at 22:59 hours with 345 Ogun pilgrims and 70 Officials.
M= 151, F= 194
Total Airlifts=1796
Today 04/05/2026, Airpeace flight APK7902 departed Lagos to Madinah at 01:41hrs with 315 Oyo pilgrims.
