By Soliu Oyesiji
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and its Saudi service provider, Mashariq Aldhahabiya, have agreed to establish a joint situation room to enhance coordination and address operational issues during the 2026 Hajj.
Chairman of NAHCON, Ismail Yusuf Abba, disclosed this in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of the Saudi-based firm led by its board chairman, Mohammed Amin Hassan Andangiri.
Abba said the move forms part of efforts by the commission to align its operations with the service provider responsible for handling services for Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in Saudi Arabia.
He explained that the decision followed lessons learnt from challenges encountered during the 2025 Hajj, particularly data mismatches involving flight manifests, contract numbers and accommodation allocations that disrupted the smooth processing of pilgrims.
Both parties also agreed to prioritise strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads and verification of accommodation contracts before the departure of pilgrims.
NAHCON further resolved to intensify compliance checks at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests correspond with approved accommodation allocations.
The commission said the engagement is 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.
