2026 Hajj: Nigerian pilgrims move to Makkah ahead Arafat day

Just a few hours before the commencement of this year’s Hajj exercise, Nigerian pilgrims successfully completed the Madinah leg of their spiritual journey and have been transported to the holy city of Makkah.

The pilgrims’ departure from Madinah, where they spent several days worshipping in the Prophet’s Mosque and visiting historical sites that are part of the evolution of the Islamic religion, marked the end of their first phase of the 2026 Hajj operations.

The final group of pilgrims, primarily from Zamfara, Kano, Borno, and a few other states, has departed from Madinah for Makkah. They are preparing to move to the Masha’ir, the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, where the five-day Hajj will take place.

This year’s spiritual exercise, which is obligatory for Muslims who are financially and physically able, begins on Monday, May 25, and concludes on Friday, May 29.

ALSO READ: Eid-el-Kabir: Many Muslims opt for shared cows, camels, pool resources

Upon arriving in Makkah, the pilgrims went to their various hotel accommodations and then proceeded to the Grand Mosque to perform their Umrah. They are now waiting for their eventual movement to the Masha’ir for the main Hajj activities.

The conclusion of the Madinah movement was coordinated by the Madinah coordinator of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Passport Control team, which dispatched the pilgrims to Dhul-Hulayfah Miqat, where the Hijrah Committee received them and oversaw their onward movement from the Miqat to Makkah.

The smooth transition between the two phases reflects the coordinated efforts of NAHCON and its operational teams in ensuring a hitch-free Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims this year.