BREAKING: NAHCON, STATE PILGRIMS BOARDS SET MAY 9, 2025, FOR INAUGURAL HAJJ FLIGHT

By Administrators On Apr 22, 2025

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Executive Secretaries of the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards have agreed on May 9, 2025 as the official date for the commencement of the inaugural airlift for the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The resolution was reached during a strategic meeting held today under the auspices of the Forum of States. The gathering was convened to assess the readiness of various State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards ahead of the Hajj season.

In his opening remarks, NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullah Saleh Usman, emphasized the urgency of final preparations. He called on states to provide updates on key areas including visa issuance, vaccination efforts, baggage procurement, and other logistical matters.

Providing a breakdown of the airlift arrangements, NAHCON Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, announced the allocation of pilgrims across approved airlines:

Air Peace will transport 5,128 pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba States.

FlyNas has been assigned 12,506 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The airline will deploy nine aircraft for the operation.

Max Air will airlift 15,203 pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Plateau States. The airline will use two aircraft: a Boeing 747 (400 capacity) and another aircraft with a 560-seat capacity. The airline aims to complete airlifts by May 24.

Umza Air has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe States. Umza will deploy a Boeing 747 (477 capacity) and a Boeing 777 (310 capacity

The entire allocation is based on a projected total of 43,000 Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj.

Additionally, Professor Abubakar Yagawal, Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information & Library Services (PRSILS), briefed attendees on the Commission’s medical and administrative preparations, including the setup of clinics in Makkah and Madinah and the distribution of Yellow Cards. He also reiterated the Commission’s policy against registering pregnant women for the pilgrimage.

The meeting concluded with the confirmation of May 9, 2025 as the date for the first outbound flight, with the airlift concluding by May 24, 2025. Return (inbound) flights are tentatively scheduled to begin on June 13 and end by July 2.