Hajj 2024: 18,061 Pilgrims Airlifted to Saudi Arabia – NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that 18,061 Nigerian pilgrims have been transported to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj.

NAHCON’s command and control center provided this update on Friday.

According to the center, the pilgrims were flown on 43 flights operated by Flynas, Air Peace, and Max Air.

The commission expects to airlift over 65,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year.

The inaugural flight took off on May 15 from Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi, carrying pilgrims from Kebbi, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are anticipated to arrive at the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madina, where they will spend four days before heading to Makkah for their Hajj and Umrah rites. They will then depart from the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

In a press statement, NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Usara confirmed that no flights have been canceled to date.

“So far, no flight cancellations have been recorded, except for a delay that shifted the Kwara inaugural flight from May 20, 2024, to the early hours of Tuesday, May 21,” Usara stated.

She assured that all pilgrims would return to Nigeria following a first-in-first-out (FIFO) policy, ensuring equal duration of stay in Saudi Arabia for everyone.

“Pilgrims are advised to remain calm and understand that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) follows a First-in-First-Out (FIFO) policy for returning from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, meaning the return sequence mirrors the departure sequence,” Usara explained. “Thus, all pilgrims are expected to spend the same estimated number of days in the Kingdom based on their departure time.”

Speaking to journalists in Makkah, Aliyu Tanko, NAHCON’s deputy coordinator of Makkah operations, assured that all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted before the airports close. He added that flights are proceeding as scheduled, with Saudi authorities cooperating with their Nigerian counterparts.