By Abdullahi Yusuf

1. MaxAir flight VM260 departed Katsina to Jeddah at 01:01 AM with 539 pilgrims and 3 officials on board. Males – 377, Females – 162 Total Airlift to Date: 26,716 pilgrims | 65 flights.
2. Flynas flight XY8034 from Sokoto to Madinah, carrying 422 Zamfara pilgrimsand 5 officials, has landed safely in the Kingdom.
3. The first batch of Katsina pilgrims has arrived safely at King AbdulAziz International Airport, Jeddah.
4. Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Boardannounces that its 7th and final flight is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 May 2025, marking the conclusion of airlift for the state’s pilgrims.
5. NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, commends the Madinah reception team for their dedication, hospitality, and sacrifices in receiving Nigerian pilgrims, describing their performance as “truly commendable.”
6. Kaduna State Pilgrims Board releases flight schedules for its remaining intending pilgrims. 7. A wanted kidnapper was arrested by security agents at the Abuja Hajj Campwhile attempting to join the pilgrimage.
8. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrahadvises pilgrims not to sleep in corridors or aisles in Mina and other holy sites to maintain safety and order.
9. Saudi Arabia plans to deploy cloud seeding technology to reduce heat levels at holy sites during Hajj 2025.
10. Qatar’s Hajj Medical Unit confirms full operational readiness, offering top-tier healthcare at Makkah, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, with emergency support through Saudi German Hospital.
11. Bangladesh has airlifted a total of 48,661 pilgrims to the Kingdom as of Saturday morning for Hajj 2025.
12. All individuals on the Maldives Hajj Corporation queue will perform Hajj this year, according to the country’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs.