The National Assembly has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for its handling of the 2026 Hajj operations following the successful completion of the outbound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Gatekeepers News reports that NAHCON concluded the exercise on Thursday, May 21, 2026, just hours before the closure of Saudi airspace for incoming pilgrims. The final flight, operated by Max Air, departed Gusau International Airport with pilgrims from Zamfara State.
The airlift operation, which began on May 3, recorded 98 outbound flights within 18 days. Designated airlines, including Flynas, Air Peace, and Umza Aviation, transported about 39,000 government-sponsored pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The figure does not include government officials and other representatives participating in the pilgrimage.
Nigeria was allocated a quota of 50,000 pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, including 9,750 slots reserved for licensed tour operators, operational support personnel, and statutory officials.
NAHCON noted that some intending pilgrims were unable to travel due to circumstances such as illness and death after visa issuance.
A joint National Assembly committee made up of senators and members of the House of Representatives described the exercise as an improvement over previous operations, citing better coordination and service delivery.
The lawmakers, who were on an oversight visit to Madinah, inspected accommodation facilities and assessed services being provided to Nigerian pilgrims.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Ali Ndume said the 2026 Hajj exercise had shown stronger coordination, improved collaboration among stakeholders, and better service delivery.
He praised NAHCON’s leadership and operational teams for what he described as significant progress in the management of the pilgrimage.
NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ismail Abba Yusuf, also commended the cooperation of staff, state pilgrims’ welfare boards, licensed tour operators, airline operators, security agencies, and other stakeholders for contributing to the success of the operation.
Yusuf further acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims despite prevailing global socio-political challenges.
He urged pilgrims to obey Saudi Arabia’s Hajj regulations and avoid actions that could attract sanctions or disrupt their pilgrimage activities.
According to him, adequate preparations have also been made for the Masha’ir phase of the pilgrimage, with arrangements in place to ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims throughout the exercise.
Meanwhile, some pilgrims from Kano State who arrived in Madinah on Wednesday complained about what they described as an early transfer to Makkah, saying it shortened their planned stay in the Prophet’s City and affected their spiritual activities.
Reports indicated that about 1,809 Kano pilgrims on the fourth to seventh flights experienced delays caused by rescheduling, which extended the airlift operation by 72 hours. Some flights were also reportedly diverted to Jeddah instead of Madinah, which had initially been designated as their entry point.
NAHCON has yet to officially respond to the concerns raised by the affected pilgrims.
