ABUJA — The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that over 27,316 Nigerian pilgrims have been successfully transported back to the country from Saudi Arabia, following the completion of the 2025 Hajj rites.
Out of the total 41,668 pilgrims airlifted for this year’s pilgrimage, NAHCON disclosed that the return operation has been progressing steadily, though slower than initially expected due to airspace congestion and unexpected flight cancellations.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Hajiya Fatima Usara, Assistant Director of Information and Publication at the commission, NAHCON explained that improved flight slot allocations have recently boosted the pace of return flights.
“Since June 22, Nigerian carriers have been granted up to seven flights daily, allocated in a 2-2-2-1 ratio,” the statement read.
Despite this progress, NAHCON announced that the initial target to complete the return airlift by June 28 may no longer be feasible. The final phase is now scheduled to conclude by Tuesday, July 2, 2025 — barring any further disruptions.
Usara also noted that the figure of 27,316 returnees excludes pilgrims who opted to return through commercial airlines due to urgent personal reasons.
As for the remaining pilgrims:
Max Air is responsible for 6,019 pilgrims and is operating with two wide-bodied aircraft, each with a capacity of 560 seats.
UMZA Aviation Services still has 4,850 pilgrims to airlift, using two aircraft with capacities of 484 and 312 seats respectively, totaling 796.
FlyNas is tasked with transporting 2,480 pilgrims, with a daily capacity of 819.
Air Peace has 1,635 pilgrims left and operates with a 315-seat aircraft.
NAHCON reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe and timely return of all pilgrims, thanking stakeholders and families for their continued patience and understanding.
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