By Soliu Oyesiji
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has moved to address data management challenges that affected previous Hajj operations by strengthening coordination with its Saudi service provider, Mashariq Aldhahabiya.
Chairman of NAHCON, Ismail Yusuf Abba, disclosed this in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of the Saudi-based firm led by its board chairman, Mohammed Amin Hassan Andangiri.
Abba said the commission had learnt lessons from the 2025 Hajj where data mismatch involving flight manifests, contract numbers and accommodation allocations disrupted the smooth processing of Nigerian pilgrims.
He said NAHCON is aligning its operations with Mashariq Aldhahabiya, the company responsible for overseeing services for Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in Saudi Arabia, to prevent a recurrence.
Both parties agreed to prioritise strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads and verification of accommodation contracts before pilgrims depart Nigeria.
The commission also plans to intensify compliance checks at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests correspond with approved accommodation allocations.
They further agreed to establish a joint situation room to provide real-time updates and promptly address operational challenges.
The development, according to NAHCON, is part of efforts to ensure a smoother Hajj exercise for Nigerian pilgrims in 2026.
The information was contained in a statement signed by Shafii Sani Mohammed.
