The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the successful completion of return flights for Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the successful conclusion of the pilgrimage operations and commended stakeholders who contributed to the exercise.
He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their support, which he said played a significant role in the success of the Hajj operation.
12 Pilgrims Still Receiving Treatment
Despite the completion of the airlift operation, the commission disclosed that 12 Nigerian pilgrims remain hospitalised in Saudi Arabia for various health conditions.
According to NAHCON, arrangements have been put in place to ensure their safe return to Nigeria once they are discharged.
“NAHCON is closely monitoring their situations and has made arrangements to facilitate their safe return to Nigeria as soon as they are discharged from the hospitals,” the commission stated.
Appreciation for Stakeholders
The commission also acknowledged the contributions of state pilgrims’ welfare boards, licensed tour operators, service providers, aviation partners, medical teams and security personnel whose efforts supported the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
NAHCON noted that while the exercise was largely successful, some operational challenges were encountered.
“The commission acknowledges that, as with every major operation of this scale, there were challenges encountered in the course of the exercise,” it said.
The commission added that valuable lessons had been learnt from the experience and would be applied to improve future Hajj operations.
Preparations for 2027 Hajj Underway
NAHCON further disclosed that preparations for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage have formally commenced as part of its commitment to early planning and continuous improvement.
According to the commission, the decision was communicated to Hajj managers across the country through a circular issued on June 15.
State pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies, commissions and licensed private tour operators have been directed to begin preparatory activities immediately.
The commission said all preparations must be carried out in strict compliance with the official guidelines issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 2027 Hajj season.
NAHCON expressed optimism that early planning and the lessons learnt from the 2026 exercise would contribute to a more efficient and seamless pilgrimage operation in the coming year.
