By Alabi Olawale
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to completing the state’s Hajj Camp to facilitate seamless Hajj operations.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, gave this assurance at the Deputy Governor’s Office in Osogbo, while hosting an 8-member delegation from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by the Commissioner for Operations, Inspectorate, and Compliance, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi.
Addressing the delegation, Prince Adewusi stated that the state government is proactively addressing the airport requirements for Hajj airlifts. He further disclosed that the Hajj Camp project is at its final stage and would be completed soon.
“On the issue of the airport, we assure NAHCON that we are working on it. Our Hajj Camp is currently at the final stage and will be completed very soon,” the Deputy Governor affirmed.
Earlier in his address, Prince Elegushi explained that the visit was part of a sensitization drive on new policies and strict deadlines introduced by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 2027 Hajj exercise.
While commending the Osun State government, he noted that the state remains a front-runner in Hajj operations, particularly in the provision of quality accommodation and feeding for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. He assured that NAHCON would maintain its focus on securing robust feeding arrangements for future hajj operations.
Prince Elegushi, however, expressed concern that the South-West zone had failed to utilize its slot allocation during the 2026 Hajj exercise, leading to a reduction in its quota to 50,000 for the 2027 Hajj operation. He noted that should the South-West states fully utilize their allocated quotas next year, the Saudi Ministry would consider an upward review of the allocation.
He further disclosed that NAHCON is exploring a proposal to merge South-West Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards under a unified Hajj operator to secure a larger regional quota.
The NAHCON Operations Commissioner urged Osun State to prioritize medical screening,revealed that in the last Hajj exercise, some states were fined by the Saudi Arabia Hajj and Umrah Authority on medical grounds.
He also addressed complaints from intending pilgrims concerning substandard luggage given to them, announcing that NAHCON had approved two reputable companies to supply high-quality bags for all intending pilgrims from the South-West States.
He then urged Osun State to submit its official pilgrim list early to facilitate timely documentation, explaining that early submission would give relevant officials enough time to travel ahead and be on ground in Saudi Arabia to receive the intending pilgrims on arrival.
Stressing the importance of the deadline, he urged Osun State to remit at least 60 percent of its funds and complete the data capture of its intending pilgrims, noting that NAHCON has fixed September 26, 2026, as the final, non-extendable deadline for state Hajj boards to complete their Hajj fare payments and data capture on the Masar platform for the 2027 Hajj.
“States are required to remit 60 percent of their total funds by the deadline, or face the reallocation of unused quotas to other states,” he stated.
Speaking in the same vein, the NAHCON South-West Commissioner, Dr. Tajudeen Abefe, lauded Governor Adeleke for his continuous support of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (OSMPWB). He expressed confidence that the completion of the Hajj Camp would attract the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, to perform the commissioning ceremony.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Abdul Rasheed Aderibigbe, commended the Governor for his sustained support in ensuring a seamless Hajj exercise in the state since the inception of his administration, while also praising the NAHCON South-West delegation for their insightful visit to the state.
Present at the visit were the OSMPWB Board Chairman, Dr. Abdul Maruf Olawale Ishola, and other Board members,the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Muritala Fakunle, and the Director of Finance, Mr. Munirudeen Arogundade.Other members of the NAHCON delegation included Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, Dr. Sikirullah Adetona, Eng. Habib Bello, Esin Ally Opeyemi, Jamiu Kamilu, and Abdul Fatai Abdul Majeed.
