The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has briefed the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Nigeria’s preparations and progress ahead of the 2026 Hajj.
The update was given during a virtual meeting aimed at sustaining consultations with Saudi authorities to ensure seamless coordination for the forthcoming pilgrimage. The session was held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Professor Usman outlined key milestones in Nigeria’s preparations, including the successful securing of initial camp booking slots and related services in full alignment with the Saudi Hajj calendar.
He also presented to the Ministry the list of approved airlines that comply with Saudi aviation protocols, paving the way for slot allocations and flight schedule harmonisation.
“On Tour Operators NAHCON is in the advanced stage of screening and will retain the same grouping of companies into ten, exactly as in the previous year. The Commission will soon provide the names of Lead companies and confirm that the Tour Operators companies will maintain the same camp zones as allocated in 2025,” Professor Usman explained.
Professor Usman reiterated the commission’s dedication to ensuring a well-organised and spiritually fulfilling Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims, in full alignment with the expectations of the Saudi authorities.
In his response, the Saudi Ministry’s representative, Youssef Jamal Altharthi, commended NAHCON’s proactive efforts.
He emphasised the importance of submitting pilgrims’ data early to facilitate efficient planning.
He further urged NAHCON to ensure compliance with health guidelines and advocate for early visa processing to enable the timely issuance of Nusuk cards.
He highlighted a new policy requiring pilgrims to receive their Nusuk cards upon arrival at the airport, rather than at hotels or during departure to Makkah, to streamline operations.