NAHCON reschedules final return phase of Nigerian pilgrims to July 2

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a new date for the final phase of returning Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

Initially scheduled to conclude earlier, the return journey will now wrap up on July 2, 2025, following unforeseen delays.

According to a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by Hajiya Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, a total of 27,316 out of the 41,668 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in this year’s Hajj have already been airlifted back to the country.

Usara stated, “NAHCON wishes to inform the public, particularly 2025 Hajj pilgrims, their families and stakeholders, that the return leg Hajj airlift operations has improved significantly with carriers securing an increase in slot allocations.

“Nigeria’s carriers have since June 22 been allocated up to seven flights per day at the ratio of 2-2-2-1.”

She attributed the slower-than-expected pace of the return operations to airspace congestion and a number of cancelled flights after the Hajj.

“However, despite the increase in slots, the return airlift of pilgrims may not be concluded by June 28 as earlier projected,” she said.

“This may not be possible until Tuesday, 2nd July 2025 — approximately six days away, barring any further unforeseen disruptions.”

According to her, in addition to those already airlifted, many pilgrims also returned independently via commercial flights due to personal commitments.

She provided further breakdowns of pilgrims yet to be returned:
“Of the remaining number of pilgrims, Max Air has 6,019 with aircraft capacity of 1,120 daily having two wide bodied aircraft with 560 seats each.

“UMZA Aviation Services is left with 4,850 passengers divided between two aircraft with 484 seats capacity and 312 totaling 796.

“FlyNas has 2,480 pilgrims left with a carriage capacity of 819 passengers daily.

“Air Peace is left with 1,635 pilgrims with an aircraft of 315,” she said.

Usara reiterated NAHCON’s commitment to ensuring that all pilgrims are brought back home as swiftly as possible.

“NAHCON remains determined to facilitate the earliest possible return for all pilgrims,” she added.