Tribute to Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu Gana, Airline Operations & Hajj Airlift Manager, Borno State

By Nurul Rizqiawan

Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu Gana is recognised as one of Borno State’s most experienced and reliable airline operations managers, with over two and a half decades of service in Hajj and domestic airlift coordination.

He served as station manager for Transaharan Air Ltd and Fresh Air Ltd in Maiduguri and later managed extensive Hajj operations for Max Air across multiple stations, including Maiduguri, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.

Beyond outbound flights, he also handled incoming operations to Nigeria from King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah, for Transaharan Air Ltd., Max Air, Air Niamey, and other airlines. This return phase of Hajj involved coordinating arrivals, baggage, passenger processing, and liaison with Nigerian authorities for over 25 years.

Notable operational records:
During the airlift of passengers from Maiduguri by Mangal Air, he successfully dispatched all three assigned flights consecutively in only one hour on the ground—a turnaround that set the standard for efficiency at the airport.

He pioneered the use of the bullhorn to organise passengers at King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah, improving crowd control and communication for Nigerian pilgrims in a high-pressure environment.

During peak Hajj seasons, Alhaji Gana was responsible for ground handling, passenger processing, manifests, and liaison between NAHCON, FAAN, NAMA, the airlines, and Saudi authorities. His work ensured that thousands of pilgrims from Borno, Yobe, and neighbouring states departed and returned safely and on schedule.

Colleagues and stakeholders in the Borno aviation and pilgrimage community consistently describe him as efficient in managing complex logistics under tight Hajj timelines. Reliable, trusted by airlines and state boards to deliver results; Innovative, introducing practical systems like the bullhorn method to improve passenger flow Experienced – with over 25 years of hands-on knowledge in Hajj protocols and airport operations

His contribution helped strengthen Borno’s reputation for organised Hajj airlift operations and supported the smooth movement of pilgrims from the Northeast to and from the Holy Land.

This note is shared to preserve the record of his service and to recognize the critical role played by ground operations staff in the success of Hajj.

Nurul Rizqiawan
Aviation Consultant
Jakarta wrote it from Indonesia.