THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that over 6,500 Nigerian pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to the country from Saudi Arabia, marking significant progress in the 2025 Hajj return operations.
According to an official update from NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre in Makkah, a Max Air flight (VM265) departed Jeddah for Lagos at 08:33 am today, June 17, conveying 560 individuals — 550 pilgrims and 10 officials.
The breakdown revealed that 549 pilgrims were from Oyo State, with one from Plateau State.
This brings the total number of pilgrims who have returned to Nigeria so far to 6,528 through 16 inbound flights since the commencement of the return phase.
In a statement shared on NAHCON’s official X platform, the Commission reaffirmed its dedication to the safe and seamless repatriation of all pilgrims.
“We are committed to ensuring every Nigerian pilgrim returns safely and comfortably. The coordinated efforts of our teams and partners are yielding positive results, and we appreciate the patience and cooperation of all pilgrims,” the statement read.
NAHCON continues to monitor operations from its Makkah control centre, providing real-time updates as the Hajj exercise gradually winds down.
The Commission’s efforts underscore the importance of efficient coordination and logistics in ensuring the welfare of pilgrims on such a large scale.