Hajj 2024: 18,061 pilgrims airlifted to Saudi Arabia, says NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says 18,061 Nigerian pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj.

NAHCON’s command and control centre disclosed this in an update on Friday.

The centre said the pilgrims were airlifted in 43 flights operated by Flynas, Air Peace and Max Air.

It added that more than 65,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia by the commission this year.

The inaugural flight began on May 15 at the Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi, with the airlift of Kebbi, Nasarawa and federal capital territory (FCT) pilgrims. 

Thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia through the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madina, and spend four days in the city before proceeding to Makkah for their Hajj and Umrah rites.

They would then exit the country through the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. 

In a press statement, Fatima Usara, NAHCON spokesperson, said no flight has been cancelled so far. 

“Thus far, no flight cancellation has been recorded except for a flight delay that resulted in a time shift that affected the Kwara inaugural flight; moving it from 20th May 2024 to the early hours of Tuesday 21st May,” she said.

Usara said all pilgrims would be returned to Nigeria on the first-in-first-out (FIFO) conveyance policy, adding that an equal number of days would be spent by everyone in Saudi Arabia.

“Pilgrims are advised to be calm and to take note that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has a policy of First-in-First-Out (FIFO) meaning return from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria will follow the same sequence of departure from Nigeria,” Usara added. 

“Therefore, all pilgrims are expected to spend the same estimated number of days in the Kingdom according to their time of conveyance.”

Speaking with journalists in Makkah, Aliyu Tanko, NAHCON’s deputy coordinator of Makkah operations, said all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted before the closure of airports.

He added that flights are running as scheduled and Saudi Arabia authorities are cooperating with their Nigerian counterparts.