The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has officially announced that the process of returning pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria will kick off on June 15, 2026. This revelation was made by the agency’s Chairman, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, during a statement released on Tuesday. He emphasized that the repatriation will follow the exact order in which pilgrims originally traveled to the Kingdom for the 2026 Hajj.
According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Datti, who signed the statement on Sunday, pilgrims who departed Nigeria on the first flight will be among the first to return on the initial inbound flight. Subsequent groups will be transported back according to their respective travel schedules, ensuring a systematic and orderly process.
Abubakar stressed that no pilgrim will be allowed to change or choose an alternative return flight outside the agency’s arrangements. He urged all Kaduna pilgrims to cooperate fully with officials and strictly adhere to the approved timetable to facilitate a seamless and successful airlift operation.