The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has clarified the circumstances that led to its intervention in selecting service providers for private tour operators ahead of the 2026 Hajj.
Speaking to Hajj Reporters, the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, explained that the decision followed a series of unresolved disagreements among tour operator associations and directives from both the Saudi authorities and Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Elegushi recalled that after the 2024 Hajj, the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) had petitioned the National Assembly, accusing NAHCON of imposing Ithraa AlJoud—a Saudi-based company on them and even alleged that the Company is inefficient and corrupt. The House of Representatives later directed NAHCON to blacklist the firm.
During the 2025 Hajj, we allow Tour Operators to choose their service providers. HUTUON choose Rawaf Mina. Some Tour Operators went to Rawaf Mina and brokered a deal and put it on their platform. AHUON also entered a deal with ITHRAA AL JOUD, and they brought it for the Chairman to sign, and I pleaded with the Chairman to sign it. None of the AHUON members follow them to patronize Ithra Al Joud.
Remember, NAHCON only select Rawaf Mina to provide service for VIP pilgrims.
“Surprisingly, the same AHUON returned to nominate Ithraa Al Joud as its preferred service provider for the 2026 Hajj, Elegushi said. “We rejected it because the National Assembly had already instructed us not to patronize the company, even though they were chosen only by the NEC of AHUON and not all other members.
He explained that NAHCON gave operators the freedom to choose their service providers, but the associations—AHUON and HUTUON—failed to reach a consensus before the Saudi Ministry of Hajj’s deadline. Saudi regulations permit each country to contract only two service providers: one for state pilgrims and one for private operators.
According to him, a Zoom meeting attended by over 100 tour operators gave NAHCON a mandate to select a neutral company on their behalf. We met with all tour operators jointly, and I asked them, now that you couldn’t agree on service providers, have you given NAHCON the mandate to select a neutral service provider, and you people will go and negotiate with them? All those present unanimously agreed. The resolution automatically overturned our previous decision for them to choose their preferred service provider.
The Commission later chose Bushra Hospitality Co after consultations with the general body of licensed operators.
“Our action was based on collective agreement, not imposition,” Elegushi stated. “The general assembly mandated NAHCON to act in the interest of all operators, not any single association.”
He emphasized that NAHCON’s role was to ensure transparency, compliance with Saudi guidelines, and a unified front for the smooth conduct of the 2026 Hajj operations.
