By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced May 9, 2025, as the date for the commencement of the inaugural flight for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. This was disclosed during a strategic meeting held Tuesday in Abuja between NAHCON and the Executive Secretaries of State Muslim Pilgrims? Welfare Boards under the Forum of States.

The meeting was convened to assess the preparedness of the states for the upcoming pilgrimage season, with a focus on visa processing, vaccination efforts, baggage procurement, and other critical logistics; according to a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara Assistant Director, Information and Publications.

In his opening remarks, NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullah Saleh Usman, emphasized that the Hajj season is in its final preparatory stages. He called on state representatives to provide detailed updates on their respective levels of readiness.

During the deliberations, NAHCON?s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, outlined the airlift arrangements for the 2025 pilgrimage. Air Peace will be responsible for transporting a total of 5,128 pilgrims drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, the Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba states.

FlyNas was allocated 12,506 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. The airline will deploy nine aircraft to handle the operations.

Max Air will airlift 15,203 pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Plateau states. The airline will utilize two aircraft ? a Boeing 747 with a 400-passenger capacity and another with a 560-passenger capacity. The company has committed to completing its airlift by May 24.

Umza Aviation has been assigned 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states. The airline will deploy two aircraft ? a B747 with a capacity of 477 passengers and a B777 accommodating 310 passengers.

In total, 43,000 Nigerian pilgrims are scheduled to participate in this year?s Hajj.

Speaking at the meeting, NAHCON?s Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal, provided updates on medical arrangements, including clinics secured in Makkah and Madinah. He also confirmed the distribution of Yellow Cards to states and issued a final reminder against the enrollment of pregnant women for the pilgrimage.

The meeting concluded with consensus on May 9 as the date for the inaugural flight, with the outbound airlift expected to wrap up by May 24. The return journey (inbound flights) is tentatively scheduled to commence on June 13 and conclude by July 2.

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