National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has successfully concluded the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking the end of the 2025 Hajj exercise.

A statement by Assistant Director Information and Publication at NAHCON, Fatima Usara, said the final flight carrying 88 pilgrims departed Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 10:30 a.m. yesterday en route to Kaduna and Katsina states.

According to Usara, the return leg exercise ended with 101 flights in 20 days of operations, which commenced on the 13th of June. In his farewell address to the pilgrims, the Chairman of NAHCON, Prof Abdullah Saleh Usman, expressed profound gratitude to Allah for granting Nigerians a smooth and successful Hajj exercise.

He attributed this success to the spirit of unity and cooperation demonstrated by State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards officials, airline operators and other service providers, as well as obedience of the pilgrims to laid-down guidelines.

The chairman urged the returning pilgrims to continue praying for Nigeria to overcome its challenges and to remember the nation’s leaders in their prayers.

He also reminded them that Hajj serves as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships, which foster peace and harmony, and encouraged them to sustain the ties of friendships they established during their pilgrimage.