Airlift of Zamfara pilgrims begins May 15 as NCAA okays Gusau Airport
The airlift of Zamfara state intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj would begin from May 15, 2026, as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) made final inspection of the Gusau
The airlift of Zamfara state intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj would begin from May 15, 2026, as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) made final inspection of the Gusau International Airport.
Officials of the Zamfara State Pilgrims Welfare Commission said final preparations for the airlift may be completed on or before May 10 ahead of the Hajj operation.
The official said, barring any last-minute changes, Zamfara pilgrims may be airlifted by UMZA Airlines on the 15, 16, and 18 of this month.
This would be the first time pilgrims from the state would be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the holy pilgrimage from the Gusau Airport, which was completed by Governor Dauda Lawal recently.
Before now, intending pilgrims had to travel to Sokoto on buses to fly to the holy land from the Sultan Abubakar International Airport in Sokoto.
About 20 aircraft have so far landed at the new airport since its inauguration last month, including that of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima last month.
A delegation led by the General Manager, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Bayode B.S., and represented by Director Ahmad Abba, inspected the facility ahead of the 2026 Hajj operations.
The team expressed satisfaction with the airport’s infrastructure after inspecting the runway, terminal building and control tower.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawal Barau Bungudu, led the delegation on a tour of the facility, accompanied by other government officials.
