NAHCON Sets June 3 for Return Flights as Hajj Pilgrims Head Home

MECCA — The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has announced that return flights for Nigerian Hajj 2026 pilgrims will commence on Wednesday, June 3. Premium Times confirmed the schedule on Monday. NAHCON said preparations for the return journey are fully in place and that pilgrims should expect orderly and timely transportation home.

NAHCON Chairman Ismail Yusuf praised the commitment of all stakeholders who contributed to the smooth outbound airlift. He specifically commended board members, state pilgrims welfare boards, licensed tour operators, air carriers, security agencies, and operational committees.

He also thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their personal support and supervision of the Hajj exercise throughout the season. The commission said overall the 2026 Hajj was well organised despite the challenges posed by extreme heat at Arafat and Muzdalifah.

A Complex Hajj Season

The 2026 Hajj has been one of the most medically challenging in recent years. Temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius at Mount Arafat claimed lives from multiple countries including one Nigerian pilgrim who died at Muzdalifah. NAHCON said 50 pilgrims also suffered mental disorder during the pilgrimage.

The four pilgrims who were wrongly arrested after a drug syndicate planted narcotics in their luggage were released before the return flights and will travel home with their contingent. NAHCON said it is working with security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of the frame-up scheme are identified and prosecuted.

NAHCON said returning pilgrims will undergo health screening before departure from Saudi Arabia and on arrival at Nigerian airports. Officials have been briefed to watch for signs of Ebola symptoms given Nigeria’s upgraded risk classification. The commission said it will publish a full post-Hajj report within 30 days of the last pilgrim’s return.