NAHCON Airlifts Over 14,000 Nigerian Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia as 2025 Hajj Operations Progress
Pilgrims land safely as Hajj return flights continue from Jeddah to Nigeria with care.
NAHCON ramps up coordination as over 14,000 pilgrims arrive home on 33 flights.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed the successful airlift of additional batches of Nigerian pilgrims from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, back to the country, as the 2025 Hajj return journey gains momentum.
According to an update posted Saturday morning on the Commission’s official X handle, the NAHCON Command and Control Centre in Makkah reported that a Flynas flight with registration XY9082 departed Jeddah for Sokoto at 7:51 a.m. local time. The flight carried 422 pilgrims from Sokoto State alongside four accompanying officials, pushing the total number of pilgrims airlifted to date to 13,589 across 32 flights.
Another Flynas flight, XY9022, later took off at 10:33 a.m. local time, heading for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. It conveyed 425 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also accompanied by four officials. With the completion of this flight, the cumulative number of pilgrims transported back to Nigeria now stands at 14,014 on a total of 33 flights.
“These movements reflect the Commission’s continued commitment to ensuring a seamless and efficient airlift of pilgrims during the return phase of the Hajj,” NAHCON stated via its official platform.
In the post shared on June 15, 2025, the Command and Control Centre reaffirmed that the operations are being closely monitored from Makkah in collaboration with partner airlines and authorities to guarantee safe and timely returns for all Nigerian pilgrims.
“Our commitment to a smooth Hajj airlift remains unwavering. We are steadily progressing in conveying all Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy Land for their spiritual journey,” the update noted.
NAHCON has been overseeing the logistical framework for this year’s Hajj with particular focus on the timely movement of pilgrims, ensuring coordination at every step to support the spiritual and physical well-being of participants. As the airlift operations continue, more pilgrims are expected to be returned in the coming days.
