The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reported that 6,528 Nigerian pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia following this year’s Hajj, as the airlift enters its next phase.

The update followed the 16th inbound flight, which landed on Tuesday, June 17.

Flight VM265 operated by Max Air departed Jeddah for Lagos at 8:33 a.m., carrying 560 passengers. Among them were 550 pilgrims—549 from Oyo State and one from Plateau—and 10 officials, according to NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre based in Makkah.

NAHCON said its scheduling of inbound flights is proceeding steadily, with the support of its aviation partners. The commission acknowledged the coordination efforts involved in facilitating safe returns for thousands of pilgrims completing their religious obligations.

A statement shared on NAHCON’s official X handle emphasized the commission’s ongoing efforts to prioritize well-organized and secure travel arrangements for pilgrims.

It noted that the collaboration between ground teams and airlines has helped maintain consistency in the repatriation process.

NAHCON continues to monitor operations through its Makkah control centre and is expected to dispatch more flights in the coming days as it works to conclude this year’s Hajj return phase.