By KADIRI ABDULRAHMAN

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says no fewer than 9,000 Nigerian pilgrims have arrived the city of Madinah for the 2026 Hajj operations.

According to information from the NAHCON officials in Saudi Arabia, the number has been transported since the commencement of the Hajj airlift operations on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 50, 000 Nigerian pilgrims were approved by the Saudi authorities for the 2026 Hajj.

The pilgrims are expected to spend four days in Medinah before onward movement to Makkah.

Update from NAHCON indicates that the inaugural flight took off on Sunday with UMZA flight UMZ3501 which transported 473 Kogi pilgrims to Medinah, consisting of 296 males and 177 females.

This was followed by a Flynas flight that conveyed 418 Kebbi Pilgrims consisting of 259 males and 159 females.

There was also a MaxAir flight conveying 560 Nasarawa pilgrims, which consisted of 381 males and 179 females.

On Monday, an Airpeace flight departed Lagos to Madinah with 315 Oyo pilgrims.

155 males and 160 females.

A Flynas flight also departed Kebbi to Madinah on Monday, conveying 427 Kebbi pilgrims. They were 283 males and 144 females with two officials.

There was also an UMZA flight from Dutse, Jigawa with 480 pilgrims, consisting of 306 males174 females.

Then, a MaxAir flight also departed Gombe to Madinah with 411plilgrims,which consisted 238 males and 173 females.

NAHCON has also transported 557 pilgrims from Nasarawa, 394 from Jigawa, additional 424 from Nasarawa, 343 from Osun, and 550 from Gombe states.

Pilgrims from Kebbi, Kwara and Plateau states have also been transported to Madinah.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of NAHCON, Amb. Ismail Yusuf, had earlier assured stakeholders of the commission’s steadfast commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims .

Yusuf urged the pilgrims to ensure that their conduct in the Holy Land is guided by humility.

Also, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima charged the pilgrims to uphold national values that positively reflect Nigeria, and act as positive ambassadors of the country.

Shettima described the pilgrims as representatives of the country on the global stage who must portray the best of the nation while complying with the strict regulations of the host nation.

“You are ambassadors of Nigeria. You carry with you the image of our nation and the dignity of our people.

“Let your conduct reflect discipline, humility, patience, and integrity,” he said.

The vice president described pilgrimage as a binding covenant between the Nigeria and its citizens.

He said that the government would uphold its duty of care while pilgrims uphold the values of the nation.

He said that the Hajj exercise placed a direct responsibility on public institutions to guarantee the dignity, safety, and seamless movement of all pilgrims.

“Our duty is to ensure that every pilgrim undertakes this journey without avoidable hardship, needless anxiety, or preventable setback,” he said. (NAN)

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