By Soliu Oyesiji
The Saudi Arabian government has concluded plans to allocate 98 per cent of Nigeria’s Hajj quota to private tour operators as part of its Vision 2030 reforms aimed at transitioning Hajj operations to a business-to-business model.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ismail Abba Yusuf, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing Vice President Kashim Shettima on the outcome of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
Yusuf said the new policy would see NAHCON focus primarily on its regulatory responsibilities, while operational aspects of Hajj services would be handled by licensed private operators.
According to him, the commission has already commenced preparations to implement the new arrangement and remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
Responding, Shettima commended NAHCON, State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and other stakeholders for what he described as an almost seamless 2026 Hajj operation.
The Vice President said the performance recorded during the exercise should serve as the benchmark for future pilgrimages, expressing confidence that the new operational model would support the goal of achieving a completely hitch-free Hajj exercise.
