HAJJ 2026: FCTMPWB SETS MAY 7 FOR FIRST PILGRIMS’ FLIGHT
By: Ahmad Saleh
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced plans to begin the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, with the first flight scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2026.
According to the Board, the Permanent Hajj Transit Camp will open on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Intending pilgrims are required to arrive at the camp from 4:00 PM on that day to commence pre-departure formalities.
A farewell ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 6, during which travel documents and Nusuk Cards will be distributed in batches. Authorities emphasized that the Nusuk Cards will only be issued at the transit camp, as they are essential for accessing all Hajj-related services abroad.
Pilgrims have been strongly advised to report on time, as failure to do so could lead to missing the pilgrimage altogether and may also attract financial consequences. Officials reiterated that possession of a Nusuk Card is mandatory, stressing: “No Nusuk Card, No Hajj.”
This arrangement follows an agreement between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Mashariq Al Dhahabiah, a Saudi-based service provider. Under the pilot scheme, pilgrims departing from the FCT and Lagos zones will receive their Nusuk Cards before leaving Nigeria, while pilgrims from other regions will collect theirs upon arrival at Madinah Airport.
The Nusuk Card, alongside a valid Hajj visa, remains a compulsory requirement for participation in the 2026 Hajj.
