Over 6,500 Nigerian pilgrims return from Hajj – NAHCON

The ongoing 2025 Hajj exercise continues to witness significant progress in the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims, with the total number of returnees now standing at 6,528 as Max Air completed its 16th flight on Tuesday.

According to an update from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Command and Control Centre in Makkah, “Max Air flight VM265 departed Jeddah for Lagos at 08:33hrs on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The flight conveyed a total of 560 individuals, comprising 550 pilgrims and 10 officials.

“A breakdown of the pilgrims on board shows that 549 were from Oyo State, while 1 pilgrim was from Plateau State, marking another significant movement of pilgrims back to Nigeria.”

The latest flight brings the cumulative number of pilgrims airlifted so far to 6,528, underscoring the consistent efforts of NAHCON and partner airlines in ensuring a smooth and efficient return journey for all pilgrims.

A total of 16 flights have now been completed as part of the inbound transportation phase of the Hajj operations.

Speaking on the progress, a statement issued by the Commission’s X platform earlier on Tuesday highlighted their commitment to pilgrim welfare.

“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 the operations closely from its Makkah control centre, providing real-time updates as the Hajj exercise gradually concludes with the successful repatriation of Nigerian pilgrims.