Report by Shafii Sani Mohammed
*Photo:NAHCON Chairman/CEO Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf*
MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia, May 31, 2026
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has begun reviewing the 2026 Hajj as stakeholders in Makkah assessed operations and preparations for the return of Nigerian pilgrims.
NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, urged patience, collaboration and continuous improvement, while commending officials, service providers and support teams for their contributions to pilgrims’ welfare.
Yusuf said the 2026 Hajj achieved notable successes despite the challenges of managing more than 1.7 million pilgrims in a limited area.
“Hajj is a spiritual exercise that requires sacrifice, endurance and patience. Pilgrims must be prepared for certain inconveniences that are inevitable in a gathering of such magnitude,” he said.
He stressed that operational difficulties should not excuse negligence and said NAHCON would work with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, licensed tour operators and other stakeholders to implement lessons from the exercise. He also acknowledged the efforts of NAHCON staff, the National Medical Team, National Ulama Team and traditional rulers.
Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, described the 2026 Hajj as one of the best-organised pilgrimages he had witnessed in more than two decades. He cited improvements in healthcare but called for better coordination among state boards in Mina, improved sanitation and accommodation management, and stronger orientation on financial literacy and foreign exchange transactions.
House Committee on Hajj and Pilgrimage Chairman, Hon. Jafar Muhammad Ali, noted improvements in service delivery but identified sanitation, food distribution, accommodation, transportation, financial services and complaint handling as areas requiring further attention.
Speaking on behalf of the Forum of States’ Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, Adamawa State board Executive Secretary Alhaji Abubakar Salihu said state officials were satisfied with many aspects of the operation and praised NAHCON’s responsiveness.
He described accommodation in Madinah as excellent and arrangements in Makkah as largely satisfactory. While acknowledging challenges during the Mashair phase, he said there was no evidence of deliberate negligence by the commission and urged stakeholders to translate lessons learned into practical reforms.
On post-Hajj logistics, NAHCON Head of Aviation Engineer Habeeb said the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims will begin on 4 June 2026, with pilgrims from several states on the first flights.
He urged compliance with airline and Saudi aviation regulations. Each pilgrim is entitled to two checked bags of 23 kilograms each and 8 kilograms of hand luggage. Excess baggage and prohibited items, including sharp objects and excessive quantities of liquids, will not be accepted.
Under a new Saudi arrangement, baggage screening and collection will take place at pilgrims’ accommodations about 48 hours before departure, while hand luggage will be checked several hours before airport movement to ease congestion.
Habeeb also announced a special flight for Hajj officials, including media, medical, ulama and operational teams, on 5 June 2026, and urged coordinators to submit eligible names promptly.
NAHCON Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Prince Aliu Abdul Razak, expressed appreciation to stakeholders for supporting the 2026 Hajj, particularly operational committees involved in Mashair activities.
He said concerns raised during the exercise would serve as lessons for future planning and assured stakeholders that recommendations from the review meeting would be considered. Razak also acknowledged the support of the National Assembly, State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, medical teams, ulama groups, media personnel, tour operators and Nigerian mission officials in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting brought together representatives of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, tour operators and operational committee members to assess the pilgrimage, identify improvements and support the smooth return of Nigerian pilgrims.
