Hajj Airlift for Niger State Pilgrims to Commence in May 2026
Airlift of intending pilgrims from Niger State to this year’s Hajj will begin on Monday, the eleventh of May, 2026, and conclude on Sunday, the seventeenth of May.
The Director of Operations at the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Attahiru Bala Duku, announced this during the closing of a week-long practical training course organized by the State Sharia Commission for the intending pilgrims in Minna.
Malam Attahiru Bala Duku stated that pilgrims from Chanchaga and Borgu local government areas will constitute the first flight, with the entire airlift conducted in six flights operated by FLYNAS airline. A total of 2,281 interested pilgrims from the state are expected to perform this year’s Hajj.
The training facilitator, Alhaji Mohammed Masha Allah, noted that the participants had completed all aspects of the Hajj exercise. He urged them to utilize the training while in Saudi Arabia to ensure a smooth and acceptable pilgrimage.
He also cautioned them against taking photographs, especially at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, citing heavy fines now in place for violations.
In his sermon, Malam Idris Mohammed, the Chief Imam of Niteco Road Central Mosque in Minna, advised participants particularly women to avoid hand designs, as these can negatively impact their recognition during computer scans.
Additionally, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Doctor Abu Nmodu, represented by Council Secretary Comrade Usman Chiji, encouraged pilgrims to serve as ambassadors of Niger State, emphasizing that Hajj is a spiritual journey rather than a commercial enterprise.
Representing the participants, Malam Aliyu Shehu Kpataki, a former academic secretary at the State College of Education in Minna, expressed gratitude to the organizers and committed to applying the lessons learned during the training.
