By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State has officially commenced the 2025 Hajj airlift with 388 intending pilgrims departing for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aboard the inaugural flight on Monday, May 12, 2025.
The pilgrims, comprising 167 males and 221 females, boarded a FLYNAS Airbus A330-300 aircraft with registration number XY8410, which departed the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at exactly 5:42 p.m. Nigerian time.
Present at the airport to see the pilgrims off were the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Amir-ul-Hajj, Hon. Ibrahim Layode; the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi; and members of the 2025 Hajj Central Working Committee (CWC), among other dignitaries.
Addressing journalists at the tarmac, Hon. Layode urged the pilgrims to focus on the spiritual purpose of the pilgrimage and to strictly adhere to all prescribed Hajj rites.
He emphasized the commitment of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, along with Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Hamzat, to the welfare and comfort of the pilgrims, highlighting the free medical screening exercise conducted across 10 locations in the state as part of preparations.
He also advised the pilgrims to be law-abiding and conduct themselves with dignity as representatives of Lagos State and Nigeria while in Saudi Arabia.
In his remarks, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Operations, Prince Elegushi, congratulated the pilgrims, describing their selection as a divine privilege. He noted that collaborative efforts between NAHCON, state pilgrim boards, and other stakeholders aim to make the 2025 Hajj exercise more successful than the previous year.
Also speaking, the Board Secretary, Mr. AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, cautioned the pilgrims against any actions that could tarnish the image of the State or the country. He urged them to avoid carrying prohibited items and to obey all local laws in the Kingdom.
According to Ajomagberin, the airlift will continue on Tuesday, May 13, with a break on Wednesday, May 14. The operation is scheduled to resume on Thursday, May 15, and conclude with the final flight on Saturday, May 17, 2025.