By Lamara Garba
The return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has commenced, with the first batch of 560 pilgrims from Nasarawa State departing King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, on Wednesday for Abuja.
The flight, operated by Max Air, took off at exactly 9:27 a.m. Saudi time, marking the beginning of the inbound phase of the 2026 Hajj operations following the successful completion of the pilgrimage rites.
As the homebound journey begins, the Kano State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, has assured pilgrims from the state that adequate arrangements have been concluded to guarantee a smooth and hitch-free return to Nigeria.
Speaking during a visit to Kano pilgrims at their accommodation centres in Makkah, the Amirul Hajj said officials of the Kano State Government, through the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, are working closely with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and airline operators to ensure seamless airlift operations.
According to him, the commencement of the return journey by pilgrims from Nasarawa State signals the beginning of the final phase of the Hajj exercise, adding that Kano pilgrims should remain calm and continue with acts of worship while awaiting their scheduled flights.
“We have been following developments closely and are satisfied with the level of preparations being made. We want to assure our pilgrims that every necessary arrangement is being put in place to ensure a smooth return to Nigeria. There should be no fear of delays as we are maintaining close contact with NAHCON and the airline operators responsible for the airlift,” he said.
Dr. Abdulkadir explained that although the responsibility for transporting pilgrims back to Nigeria rests primarily with NAHCON and the designated airlines, the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board remains actively engaged with all stakeholders to safeguard the interests of pilgrims from the state.
“While the return airlift is not directly the responsibility of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, we consider it our obligation to liaise continuously with the relevant authorities to ensure that the process is seamless and that our pilgrims are not subjected to unnecessary hardship,” he stated.
The Amirul Hajj also advised pilgrims to strictly adhere to airline baggage regulations, warning that anyone who exceeds the approved luggage allowance may face difficulties during check-in procedures.
“I want to urge all our pilgrims to carefully observe the luggage guidelines issued by the airlines. Anyone who carries excess baggage beyond the approved weight should not blame anybody if such luggage is rejected by airline officials at the airport. Let us all cooperate to ensure a smooth operation,” he cautioned.
He further reminded the pilgrims that the remaining days of their stay in the Holy Land should be devoted to prayer, reflection and other acts of worship.
Describing Makkah as a city specially blessed by Allah, he urged the pilgrims to intensify prayers for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.
“The time we have left here should not be wasted on frivolous activities. Makkah is a sacred and blessed city where prayers are answered. We should intensify our prayers for ourselves, our families, our leaders and our country. Nigeria is in need of peace, stability and prosperity, and we must continue to seek Allah’s intervention for our nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, data obtained from NAHCON showed that two additional return flights have been scheduled for Thursday, conveying pilgrims from Kebbi and Ogun states aboard Flynas, one of the airlines designated for the 2026 Hajj operations.
NAHCON’s Head of Aviation, Alhaji Habib Bello, had earlier announced the commencement of the return flights and appealed to pilgrims to comply with baggage regulations to avoid unnecessary delays.
He said each pilgrim is entitled to two checked bags weighing 23 kilograms each and one hand luggage weighing eight kilograms, warning that non-compliance could result in delays or removal from flight manifests.
According to him, pilgrims are also required to notify officials at least 48 hours before departure to facilitate passport release, baggage processing and transportation arrangements.
The flight schedule for the return of Kano pilgrims is yet to be released by the commission. Kano pilgrims were among the last contingents to arrive in Saudi Arabia during the outbound airlift and are therefore expected to be among the later groups to depart.
Statistics from the NAHCON control room indicate that a total of 38,888 Nigerian pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia during the outbound phase of the operation.
The pilgrims were conveyed in 98 flights conducted over a period of 19 days by four designated carriers.
Max Air transported the highest number with 14,701 pilgrims in 31 flights, while Flynas airlifted 11,005 pilgrims in 30 operations. Umza Aviation conveyed 6,917 pilgrims in 16 flights, while Air Peace transported 6,265 pilgrims in 21 flights
Further analysis of the data shows that 24,159 male pilgrims and 14,729 female pilgrims participated in the 2026 Hajj exercise.
Kebbi State recorded the highest number of pilgrims with more than 4,000 participants, followed by Kano State with 3,603 pilgrims. Cross River State had the smallest contingent with 15 pilgrims, while Bayelsa State sent 17 pilgrims. Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Ebonyi states did not participate in this year’s pilgrimage.