The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and strict regulatory oversight as preparations intensify for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
This position was made known during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held at the Commission’s headquarters (Hajj House) in Abuja. The meeting brought together Commissioners, Board Members, Executive Secretaries and Chairmen of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, members of the Forum of State Executive Secretaries, the Medical Mission team, and management staff.
The new NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf clarified that the reduction in Hajj quota for 2026 is a global development affecting multiple participating countries and not targeted at Nigeria. He attributed the adjustment to logistical capacity considerations and evolving regulatory measures by Saudi authorities.
He urged state officials to correct public misconceptions suggesting that Nigeria was singled out.
Ambassador Yusuf announced that Nigeria’s allocation stands at 40,250 pilgrims (excluding Tour Operators). However, uploaded data reportedly exceeded that number. He therefore directed States to urgently reconcile and withdraw excess entries to avoid bottlenecks.
NAHCON emphasized that Saudi authorities have fixed a firm visa deadline of 1st Shawwal, with no indication of extension. To beat the deadline, state pilgrims boards were therefore instructed to conclude medical screenings, documentation, and data uploads within the prescribed operational window to ensure timely visa issuance.
The Commission warned against substitution on flight manifests due to integration between airline bookings and accommodation systems.
The Board Member representing Ministry of Health, Dr Said Dumbulwa briefed stakeholders on strengthened health certification requirements.
Key measures include:
• Screening at government-recognized hospitals only.
• Mandatory inclusion of Medical & Dental Council registration numbers.
• Digital upload of medical certificates for verification.
• Strict adherence to identified disqualifying medical conditions.
He reemphasized that Private Hospitals are not permitted to conduct Hajj certification. NAHCON also announced plans to establish a dedicated coordination platform to streamline medical processes nationwide.
In a major relief for intending pilgrims, the new Chairman announced that the Yellow Card fee has been reduced from ₦5,000 to ₦2,000 for the 2026 Hajj exercise following engagement with relevant health authorities.
It was disclosed that Port Health Services will directly supervise issuance and authentication of vaccination certificates, as Saudi authorities are introducing stricter verification protocols, including biometric checks.
NAHCON announced strict monitoring of airline performance during Hajj operations. Underperformance may attract reassignment of pilgrims to better-performing carriers.
States were also advised to promptly refund pilgrims who will not travel to prevent financial disputes and maintain public trust.
The Commission disclosed plans to deploy monitoring teams to Saudi Arabia to assess feeding, accommodation, sanitation, and overall service delivery. Best-performing states may receive national recognition, while non-compliance will attract sanctions.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman Ambassador Yusuf reaffirmed that State Pilgrims Welfare Boards remain the primary custodians of pilgrims, while NAHCON’s role remains regulatory.
He emphasized unity, professionalism, and collective responsibility in ensuring a successful Hajj operation.
Abba writes from NAHCON.i
