By Soliu Oyesiji
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Amb Ismail Yusuf has expressed concern over the circumvention of mandatory medical screening by 109 Nigerian pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj, pledging to strengthen medical screening procedures ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ summit reviewing the 2026 Hajj operations, the NAHCON chairman said the commission recorded notable achievements, including an orderly airlift, improved visa processing through the Nusuk platform, enhanced medical services and stronger collaboration with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators.
“Our pilgrims performed their rites in safety, and they returned home in peace. Alhamdulillah,” he said.
Despite the successes, Usman admitted that the exercise exposed several shortcomings requiring urgent attention.
“We will not hide behind our successes. The season also exposed failures that this summit must confront frontally, including the circumvention of medical screening checks by 109 pilgrims, lapses in catering services in the Masha’er, gaps in service-provider compliance, avoidable pressure points in accommodation and transportation, and weaknesses in some of our own monitoring and enforcement instruments,” he said.
He disclosed that NAHCON had commenced a rigorous post-Hajj reconciliation process with Saudi service providers, invoking accountability clauses contained in the agreements signed with them to address the identified lapses and improve service delivery for the 2027 Hajj.
