Hajj 2026: 1,600 Lagos Pilgrims Arrive Safely From Makkah

About 1,600 Lagos pilgrims who participated in the just-concluded 2026 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have returned safely to Nigeria.

The safe arrival of the final batch of 187 pilgrims on Saturday marked the conclusion of Lagos State’s Hajj operations for the year.
Speaking to journalists at the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the Amir-ul-Hajj and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, described the spiritual exercise as a success for the state.

Layode attributed the successful outing to the exemplary conduct of the pilgrims in the Holy Land and the state’s early and inclusive planning, which involved critical stakeholders ahead of the journey.

“We give all glory to Almighty God for the successful completion of this year’s Hajj to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was a success achieved through teamwork and consciousness of purpose,” he said.

He added that despite deadlines set by Saudi authorities for early payments, the state planned ahead, conducted comprehensive health checks, provided proper orientation and ensured welfare packages for the pilgrims.

The commissioner expressed appreciation to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Gov. Kadiri Hamzat for their support, noting that their gestures contributed significantly to the achievements recorded during the exercise.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters and Chairman of the 2026 Hajj Ad-hoc Committee, Dr. Abdullahi Jebe, said Lagos State operates a prepared template that ensures strategic implementation of Hajj operations, helping the government overcome challenges such as early payment timelines set by Saudi authorities.