NAHCON Airlifts Over 14,000 Nigerian Pilgrims Back Home From Saudi Arabia

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has successfully commenced the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, with over 14,000 pilgrims already transported back to the country.

This development comes as the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage wraps up, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s annual Hajj operations. The pilgrims, who had completed their religious rites in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, were airlifted through coordinated efforts by NAHCON in partnership with several airline operators.

The commission noted that the return process is being carried out in batches, prioritizing elderly pilgrims, those with health challenges, and based on the order in which states arrived in Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON expressed gratitude to the Saudi authorities and Nigerian officials for their cooperation in ensuring a smooth Hajj exercise and return process. The commission also commended the pilgrims for their conduct during the pilgrimage.

The 2025 Hajj witnessed participation from tens of thousands of Nigerian Muslims who joined over a million pilgrims from across the globe to perform the sacred rites in Islam’s holiest sites.

More batches of pilgrims are expected to return in the coming days as the exercise continues.