By Soliu Oyesiji
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and its Saudi service provider, Mashariq Aldhahabiya, have outlined an operational framework aimed at improving service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj.
Chairman of NAHCON, Ismail Yusuf Abba, disclosed this in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of Mashariq Aldhahabiya led by its board chairman, Mohammed Amin Hassan Andangiri.
Abba said the commission is aligning its operations with the Saudi-based company responsible for services provided to Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in Saudi Arabia to prevent challenges experienced during the 2025 Hajj.
He noted that lessons had been learnt from issues recorded during the previous exercise, including data mismatch between flight manifests, contract numbers and accommodation allocations, which disrupted the smooth processing of pilgrims.
Both parties agreed to prioritise strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads and verification of accommodation contracts before the departure of pilgrims.
The commission also plans to intensify compliance checks at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests correspond with approved accommodation allocations.
The meeting further resolved to establish a joint situation room to provide real-time updates and quickly address operational challenges.
The engagement, according to NAHCON, forms part of its broader strategy to ensure a smoother Hajj operation for Nigerian pilgrims in 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Shafii Sani Mohammed.
