Makkah: The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia will commence on Wednesday. The commission has advised returning pilgrims to adhere to baggage and documentation requirements to prevent any potential delays.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Habib Bello, the Head of Aviation, Operations Department at NAHCON, made this announcement while addressing the media in Makkah. Bello explained that the flight schedules for the returning pilgrims are determined by the airlines and approved by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which is responsible for allocating operating slots to all carriers.
Max Air is set to begin return flights on June 3 with pilgrims from Nasarawa State, followed by Flynas and Air Peace, which will commence operations on June 4 with pilgrims from Ogun and Oyo states. Pilgrims have been reminded to adhere to the approved baggage allowance of two 23kg bags and one 8kg hand luggage to avoid any logistical issues. Bello emphasized that non-compliance could lead to delays or removal from flight manifests. He also urged pilgrims to inform officials at least 48 hours before departure to facilitate the release of passports, luggage processing, and transportation arrangements.
Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, the Head of the Makkah Passport Committee, also spoke on the matter, noting that NAHCON had successfully concluded the first phase of the 2026 Hajj operation and was currently processing passports for the returning pilgrims. Mohammed stated that passports are kept in safe custody to prevent loss, damage, and cases of abscondment. He further advised that pilgrims must submit their travel details at least 48 hours before departure to ensure seamless processing. Mechanisms are in place to recover misplaced passports or secure Emergency Travel Certificates when necessary.