Nigerian pilgrims board a Max Air flight at Jeddah airport as part of the ongoing 2025 Hajj return operations coordinated by NAHCON.
Nigerian Hajj pilgrims queue to board a Max Air flight at Jeddah airport for their return to Lagos during the 2025 Hajj airlift.
The ongoing 2025 Hajj return operations have seen significant progress, with over 6,500 Nigerian pilgrims now back home.
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), a total of 6,528 pilgrims have been airlifted so far, following the successful completion of 16 return flights.
The latest, Max Air flight VM265, departed Jeddah for Lagos at 08:33hrs on Tuesday, June 17, conveying 560 passengers, including 550 pilgrims and 10 officials.
“A breakdown of the pilgrims on board shows that 549 were from Oyo State, while one pilgrim was from Plateau State,” NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre in Makkah said.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a safe and orderly return process for all pilgrims.
In a statement shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, NAHCON said:
“We are committed to ensuring every Nigerian pilgrim returns safely and comfortably. The coordinated efforts of our teams and partners are yielding positive results, and we appreciate the patience and cooperation of all pilgrims.”
The Commission continues to monitor return operations closely through its Makkah control centre and has assured Nigerians of continued updates until the conclusion of the pilgrimage season.
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