The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed reports suggesting that it sought approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to roll over contracts awarded to service providers for the 2025 Hajj exercise into the 2026 operations.
In a statement issued on December 18, 2025, the Commission described the claims as false and misleading, stressing that it did not at any time request a rollover of contracts from the BPP.
NAHCON explained that its decision not to open a fresh bidding process for certain 2026 Hajj services was guided by the emergency nature of Hajj operations and the extremely tight timelines set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for participating countries. It noted that the approach is in line with Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which allows emergency procurement where standard tender processes are impracticable due to time constraints.
The Commission clarified that the re-engagement of service providers does not amount to an automatic renewal of existing contracts. According to NAHCON, performance reviews and service evaluations were conducted after the 2025 Hajj, and the Commission is not bound to retain the same contractual terms, scope or service volumes previously applied.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, value for money and quality service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims, NAHCON stated that engagements for the 2026 Hajj would be based on past performance, operational capacity, compliance records and the ability of service providers to meet Saudi regulatory requirements within the available timeframe.
The Commission cautioned stakeholders against misrepresenting its procurement processes, warning that it would not tolerate attempts to exploit the emergency nature of the 2026 Hajj operations to undermine its statutory mandate.
NAHCON urged service providers and interested parties with genuine concerns to channel them through established dispute resolution mechanisms, assuring that it remains open to constructive engagement aimed at ensuring a successful Hajj and safeguarding the welfare of pilgrims.
