All is set for the commencement of 2025 hajj operations as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed May 9th, 2025 inaugural flight of Nigerian pilgrims to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Besides, the commission has also concluded total number 43,000 Intending pilgrims allocation to the four official airlines selected for this year’s exercise.
At an expanded stakeholders meeting held Tuesday at Hajj house, Abuja, NAHCON’s Commissioner in charge of Operatiions, Prince Anofiu Elegushi disclosed that Air Peace has been assigned 5,128 pilgrims cumulative from Abia state, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba.
Similarly, Elegushi revealed FlyNas, Saudi based airline is deploying nine aircraft with allocation of 12,506 pilgrims from Federal Capital Territory, (FCT Abuja), Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“Max Air is airlifting pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo and Plateau states. The airline promised to conclude airlift of its 15, 203 maximum by 24th of May. Two aircraft will be deployed for the operation- a B747 with 400 capacity and the second aircraft with a 560 capacity.
“Umza has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Yobe states. Umza is deploying two aircraft a B747 with 477 capacity and a B777 with 310 capacity. The 2025 Hajj airlift distribution was calculated on a total of 43,000 pilgrims”.
The Commissioner Planning Research Statistics Information & Library Services (PRSILS), Prof Abubakar Yagawal equally informed the house of the level of preparedness in the area of clinics secured in Makkah and Madinah, distribution of Yellow Cards to states.
Professor Yagawal however reminded the stakeholders on the commission’s zero tolerance to enrollment of pregnant women as pilgrim for the Hajj exercise.
While unveiling the meeting, NAHCON Chairman Professor Abdullah Saleh Usman reminded the house that the Hajj industry is in the last lap of preparation before commencement of 2025 Hajj season.
Professor Usman urged the states to update NAHCON on the level each state has reached in Visa production, vaccination, bags procurement and other sundry matters.
In a statement by NAHCON’s spokesperson Fatima Usara, the meeting further deliberated and concluded that the airlift will conclude May 24th, 2025 while inbound flight is tentatively scheduled to commence from 13th June and terminated by 2nd July.
