Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has appointed former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, as the Amirul Hajj for the state’s 2027 Hajj operations.
Radda announced the appointment on Tuesday while receiving the report of the 2026 Katsina State Hajj Delegation presented by the outgoing Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, Esq.
The Governor also announced a major reduction in the number of officials to be deployed for the 2027 pilgrimage, saying the expected reduction in the number of pilgrims made it unnecessary to send a large contingent to Saudi Arabia.
Under the new arrangement, the number of Pilgrims’ Welfare Board members to be deployed will be reduced from 18 to 10, while the number of preachers will drop from 16 to 10.
The number of management staff accompanying the pilgrims will also be reduced.
Radda urged officials who may not be selected for the 2027 operation to accept the decision in good faith, stressing that nobody was being deliberately targeted.
He, however, directed that only competent, hardworking and committed personnel should be selected to participate in the operation.
The Governor warned that any official who failed to perform an assigned responsibility would be appropriately sanctioned.
He also promised to implement the recommendations contained in the 2026 Hajj report to address identified shortcomings and further improve the state’s performance in future pilgrimage operations.
At the presentation of the report, El-Marzuq also presented an award he received in Abuja from Independent Hajj Reporters, which recognised him as the “Best Amirul Hajj of the Year.”
The award came in recognition of his performance as Amirul Hajj during the 2026 Hajj operations.
Radda expressed delight at the recognition, saying he was proud of the honour bestowed on El-Marzuq.
He said the award was a source of pride not only to the recipient but also to Katsina State, describing the recognition as an indication of the quality of leadership provided during the 2026 Hajj operation.
The Governor congratulated El-Marzuq and expressed confidence that the experience gained from the 2026 operation would help strengthen future Hajj administration in the state.
Presenting the report, El-Marzuq commended the state government for its support and praised members of the delegation and the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board for their contributions to the success of the pilgrimage.
He singled out the delegation’s Media Representative, Malam Ahmed Abdulkadir, for special commendation, saying he had performed his responsibilities “beyond expectations.”
According to El-Marzuq, Abdulkadir not only discharged his media and pilgrims’ enlightenment responsibilities but also undertook a task he described as unprecedented in the history of Hajj operations in the state.
He disclosed that Abdulkadir had written a documentary memoir on the 2026 Hajj exercise titled Witness to Hajj, documenting his experiences, observations and reflections during the pilgrimage.
The Amirul Hajj appealed to the state government to sponsor the publication of the memoir and distribute copies to relevant organisations, including institutions of higher learning.
In his presentation, El-Marzuq described the 2026 Hajj exercise as another milestone in the Katsina State Government’s efforts to provide efficient, transparent, well-coordinated and pilgrim-oriented Hajj administration.
He recalled that the 2026 Government Hajj Delegation was inaugurated by Governor Radda on April 13, 2026, after which it commenced its assignment in collaboration with the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), relevant government institutions and Saudi Arabian authorities.
The delegation, he said, maintained oversight of key aspects of the operation through collaboration with committees responsible for transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services, security, religious guidance, media relations and pilgrims’ welfare.
El-Marzuq highlighted what he described as significant welfare interventions approved by Governor Radda, including the payment of Hadaya for the state’s pilgrims, the distribution of a Sallah gift of SAR300 to each pilgrim and over ₦3 billion temporary financial intervention that enabled intending pilgrims to meet the NAHCON payment deadline without losing their allocated Hajj slots.
He said the interventions helped reduce the financial burden on pilgrims and ensured that eligible intending pilgrims were not unnecessarily deprived of the opportunity to perform Hajj.
The delegation also maintained consultations with NAHCON and the Pilgrims Welfare Board on issues relating to accommodation, medical services, sanitation, transportation and general pilgrims’ welfare.
The Amirul Hajj identified the return airlift as the major operational challenge encountered during the 2026 Hajj exercise.
He said Katsina was initially scheduled to commence its return airlift on June 11, but the date was subsequently shifted to June 20 following adjustments to flight allocations and operational slots.
According to him, sustained engagement by the delegation, NAHCON and the designated airline eventually resulted in the commencement of the return journey on June 17.
Further adjustments to the airline’s operational schedule, however, extended the return airlift beyond the initially projected completion date of June 19.
El-Marzuq said he maintained communication with the airline, NAHCON, the state government and pilgrims throughout the period to ensure that timely and accurate information was provided and the situation was managed calmly.
The delegation also supervised passport sorting, baggage distribution and weighing and other pre-departure activities to facilitate an orderly return journey.
Among the recommendations contained in the report are improved collaboration with NAHCON on clearly delineated entry and exit arrangements for pilgrims from individual states, where feasible.
The delegation recommended that the state avoid high-altitude accommodation, particularly for elderly and physically vulnerable pilgrims, and involve Hajj officials and members of the advance party in menu planning to ensure that meals provided to pilgrims are suitable and nutritious.
It also recommended the provision of official identification cards for every pilgrim to facilitate identification, movement and access to services during the pilgrimage.
Other recommendations include sustaining pilgrims’ welfare interventions, constituting future government delegations with competent and committed personnel, strengthening budgetary provisions for Hajj operations, institutionalising systematic documentation of Hajj activities and lessons learned, and providing regular training and capacity building for officials involved in Hajj administration.
Despite the challenges encountered, particularly during the return airlift, El-Marzuq said the 2026 Hajj exercise was successfully conducted.
He attributed the outcome to the commitment of the state government, the delegation, the Pilgrims Welfare Board, NAHCON, service providers, airline officials, religious guides, security and medical personnel and the pilgrims themselves.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Radda for the confidence reposed in the delegation, his guidance and interventions throughout the exercise, as well as to all stakeholders who contributed to the successful conduct of the pilgrimage.
The presentation marked the formal conclusion of the 2026 delegation’s assignment, while the appointment of Dangiwa signals the beginning of preparations for Katsina State’s 2027 Hajj operations.
