The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian pilgrims

  • Nigerian pilgrims stranded for hours after Saudi flight diverts to Abuja

    Nigerian pilgrims stranded for hours after Saudi flight diverts to Abuja

    Hundreds of Nigerian pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia were left stranded on Saturday at the country’s busiest international airport after their flight encountered severe delays.

    Investigations showed that adverse weather conditions forced the Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, originally bound for Kano, to divert to Abuja. 

    Passengers initially anticipated a short delay, but were instead held inside the aircraft for more than nine hours without food, water, or clear communication from airline officials.

    The aircraft had landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yet elderly and vulnerable passengers reportedly fell ill during the prolonged confinement.

    Read Also: NNPP bars Kwankwaso from seeking 2027 presidential ticket

    Frustration grew as travellers accused the airline of offering excuses and failing to provide basic welfare support.

    Although passengers acknowledged the necessity of the diversion for safety reasons, many said the extended period of confinement and lack of care amounted to neglect rather than a routine inconvenience.

    The situation deteriorated further when travellers were finally allowed to disembark late in the night. 

    They discovered that no arrangements had been made for accommodation or meals. Some were instructed to return to the airport the following day for onward travel, while others, already fatigued, were left to arrange their own passage home.

    With the situation, the incident led to dispution  over who should bear the cost of passenger care allegedly delayed action, raising serious questions about emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and passenger rights.

    As of filing this report Saudi Arabian Airlines had yet to issue an official statement.

    For the stranded pilgrims, however, the experience left a bitter aftertaste one that transformed a journey of faith into a night of distress, uncertainty, and indignity.

    All efforts to get the reaction of authorities concern were futile. 

  • NAHCON airlifts 20,515 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in one week

    NAHCON airlifts 20,515 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in one week

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the successful airlift of 20,515 Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the first week of the 2025 Hajj operations.

    The update was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by NAHCON’s Principal Information Officer, Malam Shafil Mohammed.

    According to the statement, the figure represents the total number of pilgrims transported via 50 flights within a six-day period since Vice-President Kashim Shettima flagged off the inaugural flight on May 9 in Owerri, Imo State.

    READ ALSO: FULL LIST: World’s 11 most powerful passports in 2025

    “The Commission will continue to provide regular updates on the progress of the airlift exercise,” Mohammed said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAHCON is the federal agency charged with regulating and coordinating Hajj and Umrah activities for Nigerian Muslims. Its responsibilities include licensing and monitoring service providers involved in pilgrimage operations and ensuring seamless collaboration with relevant authorities in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

    The ongoing airlift marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 2025 Hajj preparations, with the Commission emphasising its commitment to delivering a smooth and efficient pilgrimage experience for all intending pilgrims.

  • Airlifting of 53,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi begins May 9

    Airlifting of 53,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi begins May 9

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will on May 9 begin the airlifting of over 53,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s pilgrimage.

    This was made known yesterday when NAHCON officials briefed Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja.

    The figure was  slightly more compared to last year’s delegation of 51,447 pilgrims.

    In 2023, Nigeria went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the full contingent of 95,000 pilgrims, representing the total number of slots allocated to the country.

    That was the first time in nearly a decade that the country would fill up slots allocated by Saudi Arabia.

    The Commissioner in charge of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi, said arrangements have been finalized for the smooth transportation of the pilgrims to the Holy Land.

    According to a statement  by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha, Elegushi said the commission will airlift more than 40,000 pilgrims from the states and an additional 13,000 through licensed tour operators.

    “We have picked May 9 for our first flight to Saudi Arabia through Medina. We intend to finish the airlift by May 24 and begin the return journey by June 13, concluding by July 2”, Elegushi said while addressing reporterss after the meeting.

    He emphasized that the commission had made comprehensive logistical preparations to ensure a seamless experience for the pilgrims.

    Read Also: NCPC commences 2023/2024 airlifting of pilgrims to Rome and Greece

    “We have all of our accommodation intact in Mecca, Medina and other locations. They are ready to take our pilgrims. We have secured enough bed spaces and paid for adequate feeding,” he stated.

     Elegushi assured prospective pilgrims that every aspect of their travel and stay in Saudi Arabia has been carefully planned.

    “All hands are on deck, and I can assure all Nigerian pilgrims that they are in safe hands. Adequate arrangements have been made for airlift in and out of Saudi Arabia,” he added.

    NAHCON Chairman, Prof Saleh Abdullahi Usman said the Vice President expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s preparations so far.

    “The Vice President is very happy with what we have done and encouraged us to sustain the momentum,” he noted.

    On the issue raised by tour operators concerning VIP Tent A, the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mustafa Aaji, has been tasked with leading efforts to resolve the matter swiftly.

    Vice President Shettima urged the Commission to remain steadfast in its duties and prioritize the welfare and spiritual experience of all Nigerian pilgrims.

     “All necessary measures must be taken to guarantee the success of the 2025 Hajj. We owe it to all Nigerians and our pilgrims to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he said.

    The commission, earlier during a meeting with State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Executive Secretaries, sought updates from states on Visa production, vaccination, bags procurement and other sundry matters.

    During the meeting, Prince Elegushi said that Air Peace has been assigned 5,128 pilgrims cumulative from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers and Taraba.

    FlyNas will fly 12,506 pilgrims from Federal Capital Territory, (FCT Abuja), Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara states. FlyNas is bringing in nine aircraft for the operation.

    Max Air is airlifting pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo and Plateau states. The airline promised to conclude airlift of its 15, 203 maximum by 24th of May. Two aircraft will be deployed for the operation- a B747 with 400 capacity and the second aircraft with a 560 capacity.

    Umza has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Yobe states. Umza is deploying two aircraft a B747 with 477 capacity and a B777 with 310 capacity.

    The Commissioner, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information & Library Services (PRSILS), Prof Abubakar Yagawal informed the house of the level of the commission’s preparedness in terms of clinics secured in Makkah and Madinah, distribution of Yellow Cards to states and finally reminded them not to enroll pregnant women for the Hajj exercise.

    The meeting  deliberated and settled on the inbound flight to begin from 13th June to end by 2nd July.

  • NAHCON: For the attention of Nigerian pilgrims

    By first week of July, 2019, the Saudi Arabian airspace will begin to receive pilgrims from different countries, signifying onset of 2019 Hajj season. All things being equal, NAHCON is honoured to be among those whose pilgrims will be making early entrance for the pilgrimage within the first week of the season, 10th of July to be precise. Here are few developments that pilgrims should expect in 2019 Hajj operations.

    Each pilgrim that has completed initial payment of Hajj fares for 2019 slot should expect a refund of a little over N51, 000. Cumulatively, Nigerian pilgrims have been saved payment of about N3, 326, 079, 250 (three billion naira, three hundred and twenty-six million, seventy-nine thousand, two hundred and fifty), through this discount. Considering the huge cumulative amount, declaring the discount itself is considered a testimony of NAHCON leadership’s stance on accountability and transparency.

    Another expectation is, if Saudi Arabian authorities conclude arrangements to screen pilgrims from across their respective countries’ departure centres, Nigerian intending pilgrims to 2019 Hajj should expect immigration screening by their Saudi Arabian brethren here in Nigeria in an arrangement code named “MakkaRoad Project”. Under this arrangement, intending pilgrims will be relieved of their hand luggage from their departure points only to receive them upon arrival in their designated hotels in Makka or Madinah. This will reduce the risk of being scammed with drugs as well as reduce waiting time at Saudi airports.

    Security is paramount in Hajj operations. And this the commission knows very well. A security analyst discerned that after electioneering periods, Hajj season is the next most security challenging times for Nigerian security apparatus. Indeed, the two occasions propel movement of large number of people at the same time, creating room for people with dangerous motives to try to unleash their wicked machinations.  It is hence the responsibility of government to anticipate and apprehend evil plots in order to protect each Nigerian going forth to cast his vote or going forth to participate in Hajj.

    Same security surveillance will be extended to the Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah considering the reprehensible assaults carried out on some of them during last year’s exercise. There is also the NAHCON helpline through which complaints can be lodged while in Saudi Arabia, +966920008251.

    Hence, pilgrims’ gentility is necessary both within and outside the country. Proper comportment at the airports fast-tracks clearance and onward movements, it eases work of the security personnel, Hajj managers and other stakeholders. It also projects a positive image of the country such that elicited various commendations for Nigerian pilgrims in the previous year.

    Pilgrims travelling through private tour operators should expect to pay a little extra for rail transportation to Makkah. It was observed that these categories of pilgrims usually arrive the Kingdom late when most transport companies have leased out their vehicles. The arrangement is therefore to accommodate insufficiency of buses occasioned by increased movement of pilgrims during the period leading to ayyamul tashrie (days of Hajj rites).

    On a final note, it is hoped that the feeding arrangements put on ground for Nigerian contingent will satisfy and impress them. It is the hope of the Commission that pilgrims will enjoy dishes from indigenous cuisines to be prepared by Nigerian hands in collaboration with their Saudi Arabian business counterparts. Besides, there is provision for special diets. However, if the dishes fail to satisfy our pilgrims, specific complaints are welcome. The details in the complaint should include the state where the meal was served, time, type and reason for the disapproval.

     

    • Fatima Sanda Usara writes from NAHCON

     

     

  • Hajj: 3,210 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) recorded seven flights involving 3,210 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

    According to flight records made available to newsmen on Saturday in Madinah, NAHCON said the latest flights transported the second batch of 503 pilgrims from Kano and 227 FCT pilgrims to Madinah.

    Unlike previously flights by MAX AIR Limited, the FCT pilgrims were flown into the holy land by FLY NAS airline.

    Pilgrims from Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kwara, who were already on the ground in Madina before the latest arrivals, have been moved to Makkah.

    They had spent eight days in Madinah before moving to Makkah for the Hajj rites.

  • Saudi Arabia imposes levy on frequent Nigerian pilgrims

    Saudi Arabia imposes levy on frequent Nigerian pilgrims

    Saudi Arabia has imposed a compulsory levy equivalent of N163,000 on each  prospective Nigerian pilgrim, who has performed Hajj or Umrah in the last two years.

    It also introduced a five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on all services, excluding food items and medical drugs.

    Mr. Abdullahi Mukhtar, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), said the affected pilgrims are to pay SR2000, an equivalent to N163,000.

    It is exclusive of the substantive fare for the 2018 Hajj which is yet to be announced by the federal government.

    Mukhtar spoke in Sokoto yesterday at a sensitization campaign organized by the Commission for prospective pilgrims and officials of the Pilgrims Welfare Agencies (PWA), from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.

    The levy, according to him, was announced by the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry and it became fully effective during the 2017 Hajj exercise.

    The Chairman, who was represented by the National Commissioner in Charge of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Sale, said that the campaign was organized to intimate the nation’s prospective pilgrims.

    “This is on the need to ensure the early completion of their hajj fares on or before the end of March, 2018, as it would enable the commission and the various PWA, to make early and efficient arrangements.”

    He said that the event was also organized to intimate the prospective pilgrims on the introduction of biometric data capturing of all Umrah and Hajj pilgrims by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

    He added that  three centres have been opened in Kano, Lagos and Abuja, for the data capturing, “although efforts were on by the commission to ensure the increment of the centres.”

    The Chairman, Forum of PWA in Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Sarkin Fawa Danbo, commended the commission for organizing the event, saying that various PWAs jn Nigeria were working round the clock to ensure the success of the 2018 hajj exercise.

    Alhaji Muntari Maigona, PWA Chairman Sokoto state, called on the commission to allow the various states pilgrims welfare agencies to deploy medical Doctors and other medical staff to accompany the pilgrims during the hajj exercise.

    He lamented that the existing arrangements on pilgrims feeding should be improved, while the companies in charge of such gesture should be increased.

    “So, 24 states houses of assembly are still working on it, many of them are already holding public hearing on it. That is what is going on.

    “For example, Sokoto State just conducted public hearing on the bill between Tuesday and Thursday last week.

    “Gombe has just called for memorandum from its citizens on Local Government Autonomy Bill. Others also deferred it to hold public hearing and for further discussions before they vote and forward it to Chairman, Conference of Speakers.

    “It is just that only eight so far have voted for it among 10 states who have fully considered it. It is possible that we will still get the 16 states, out of the remaining states that have not voted on Local Government Autonomy Bill.

    “We can see that it has not been rejected. So, we can’t say local government autonomy has been rejected. It is still work in progress,” the NULGE president explained.

    He said Dogara cannot be blamed for the speculation arising from his statement, because of the complexity of the ongoing constitution amendment process.

    “This important observation is necessary so that it would not give wrong signal to the remaining 24 states still working on the Local Government Autonomy Bill to perhaps think that since the bill has been rejected, there is no need to debate and vote in its favour again.”

    He appealed to them to vote in favour of Local Government Autonomy.

  • 900 Nigerian pilgrims absconded after 2017 hajj – NAHCON

    900 Nigerian pilgrims absconded after 2017 hajj – NAHCON

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) revealed yesterday that 900 Nigerians absconded after the 2017 hajj.

    The NAHCON’s Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Mr. Yusuf Adebayo, told stakeholders at a meeting in Lagos that such absconding pilgrims were only wasting their time as they would be found out sooner or later by the Saudi authorities.

    “We have also observed that some Nigerians do not return with their state contingents after the pilgrimage; some do not even perform the hajj rites before absconding,” Adebayo said, and asked intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj to make early preparation to avoid unnecessary challenges.

    He added: “Most of the challenges we usually face are due to late preparation and the Saudi authorities have taken stringent steps to ensure that they do not recur in 2018.

    “This informs why a deadline of March 31 has been fixed for all hajj payments, because all payments are expected to get to Saudi Arabia by April.”

    Adebayo urged pilgrims to always adhere strictly to the regulations guarding hajj exercise so as to enjoy full spiritual benefits of the exercise.

    Also, Mr Muftau Okoya, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Muslims Pilgrim Board, assured NAHCON of his board’s cooperation in all areas of preparation for the hajj.

    He urged intending pilgrims from the state to take advantage of the little time left to conclude their payments for the 2018 Hajj.

    “I thank NAHCON for bringing this stakeholders’ meeting to Lagos.

    “I assure the commission that we shall always cooperate with them.

    “It is barely one month to the deadline, and I urge intending pilgrims from Lagos State to take advantage of the little time left to conclude their processes,” he said.

    The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by NAHCON officials from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun.

  • Airlift of pilgrims to Nigeria begins Thursday

    Airlift of pilgrims to Nigeria begins Thursday

    …Death toll rises to 14

    Arrangements are in top gear to begin the airlift of some Nigerian Pilgrims, from Muhammad Bn Abdulaziz Airport in Madina to their various destinations, with Gombe State pilgrims expected to return this Thursday.

    Addressing journalists Tuesday, the Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Barrister Abdullah Muhammad Mukhtar, said if the preparations for the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims back home falls through the Saudi Airline, FLYNAS, would operate from the Madina Airport.

    The chairman said the entire exercise of the return journey is expected to be concluded on or before the October the fifth, barring all unforseen and unavoidable hiccups.

    He commended the role of journalists’ information dissemination, enquiries and enlightenment on the concluded Hajj rites, calling on them not to relent during the last lap of the exercise which has already commenced.

    Explaining further the return journey, the Commissioner Operations of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullah Saleh Modibbo said all the three air carriers have been notified about their flights schedules.

    He stated that FLYNAS is to conclude its airlift between seventh of September and second of October, MedView between tenth and twenty fifth of this month, while Max Air is between ninth of September and fifth of October.

    The Commissioner said the Commission had done everything humanly possible to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    In his remarks, the Finance and Administration Commissioner, Alhaji Adebayo who said already weighing of pilgrims luggage has began in earnest, assured that pilgrims feeding and transportation would continue until all pilgrims are reunited with their families.

    In a related development, so far about 14 pilgrims including a NAHCON staff have died during this year’s Hajj.

    The staff (names withheld), The Nation gathered traveled for the Hajj in company of his wife, died on Monday evening after complaining of a slight headache.

  • Five Nigerian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

    Five Nigerian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Tuesday that five Nigerian pilgrims have died since the beginning of the 2017 Hajj operation.

    The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, disclosed this during the 2017 Pre-Arafat meeting with stakeholders organised by the Commission in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    Muhammad, however, did not disclose the names of the deceased, saying the Commission would first reach out to the families of the deceased before revealing their identify to the public.

    Similarly, the NAHCON chief said the Commission recorded one delivery and one miscarriage, assuring that it would continue to provide effective healthcare service to pilgrims.

    Muhammad vowed that no amount of threat, arm twisting, ill motivated criticisms and real or imaginary hurdles would deter the Commission from achieving its goals.

    He also called on all stakeholders to put all hands on deck to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    He said no one should rest on his oars until every pilgrim successfully carried out the hajj rites and safely returned to Nigeria.

    A total 81,200 Nigerian pilgrims would join their Muslims counterparts from around the world to perform this year’s hajj.

    Over two million pilgrims from around the world and Saudi Arabia have assembled in Mecca to perform the 2017 hajj rites beginning from Wednesday, according to a local Newspaper, The Saudi Gazette.

    Afterwards, the pilgrims would move to Muna where they will stay for five days during which they will throw pebbles at Satan.

    NAN

  • Five Nigerian pilgrims die in Mecca

    Five Nigerian pilgrims die in Mecca

    FIVE Nigerian pilgrims have lost their lives since the beginning of the 2017 Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said yesterday.

    The commission’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammad, spoke at the pre-Arafat meeting of stakeholders in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    Mohammad, who regretted the demise of the affected pilgrims, said the commission will release their names after reaching out to their families.

    Chairman, NAHCON Medical Matters Dr. Ibrahim Kana, however, added that one of the deceased hailed from Kwara State.

    He noted that the death rate for this year’s Hajj was the lowest in recent times.

    Kana said a pilgrim from Kwara State was delivered of a baby and another pilgrim had miscarriage.

    But, the NAHCON boss said Nigerians who want to renew their pilgrimage henceforth are expected to pay additional 2,000 riyals – a levy he said was imposed by the Saudi Arabia authorities.

    According to him, the new levy becomes necessary in view of some of the reforms introduced by the Saudi government.

    He urged the tour operators to prepare the pilgrims for onward movement to Minna for the beginning of the hajj rites today.

    The Charge’d Affaires, Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh, Ambassador Salisu Umar, advised tour operators to discharge their responsibilities to the pilgrims to enhance the success of the hajj operations.

    He urged the operators to make sure the pilgrims under their custody are lectured on the extant laws of Saudi Arabia.