The Kano State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to consider accelerating the return airlift of Kano pilgrims to Nigeria.

Dr. Abdulkadir, who led a Kano delegation to NAHCON’s Ummuljud office in Makkah on Thursday, expressed concern over the late arrival of the state’s contingent during the outbound airlift to Saudi Arabia.

Although NAHCON is yet to release the return flight schedule for Kano pilgrims, the traditional ruler appealed for a review of the homebound airlift arrangements to reduce the number of days pilgrims would spend in the Kingdom after successfully completing their pilgrimage.

Earlier, at a separate event, Dr. Abdulkadir called on the pilgrims to intensify prayers for peace and stability in Kano State and Nigeria at large while awaiting their return flights.

The monarch assured the pilgrims that the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board had intensified engagement with NAHCON to facilitate their early return to Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Deputy Amirul Hajj and Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad Maharaz, urged the pilgrims to remain patient while awaiting the release of the return flight schedule. He also called for fervent prayers for peaceful general elections in Nigeria.

Briefing journalists shortly after a closed-door meeting with the Kano delegation, the Chairman of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismaila Abba Yusuf, pledged to examine Kano’s concerns in the interest of the pilgrims.

Although the NAHCON chairman maintained the commission operates a “first come, first return” policy in the airlift of pilgrims, he however promised to engage the airline operators to explore possible solutions to the concerns raised.

The airlift of 3,620 pilgrims from Kano commenced on May 15, 2026, exactly one week before the closure of Saudi airspace to incoming Hajj pilgrims. Worse still, a flight schedule originally designed to complete the transportation of Kano pilgrims within four days eventually stretched to seven days.

The delayed arrival inadvertently affected the pilgrims’ spiritual activities in Madinah, forcing many of them to shorten their stay in the Prophet’s City instead of observing the recommended three-day period.

As of the time of filing this report, NAHCON had not officially responded to complaints regarding the challenges faced by the pilgrims.