By Ahmadu Muazu
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has moved to dispel what it described as “persistent misrepresentation and misinformation” surrounding its procurement process for the 2026 Hajj, insisting that no contract rollover from the 2025 exercise has been sought or approved.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission stressed that contrary to claims in some quarters, it did not request approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to extend contracts of service providers engaged during the 2025 pilgrimage.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NAHCON did not at any time request for a rollover of contracts from the BPP,” the Commission declared.
According to NAHCON, the decision not to open a fresh bidding process for certain services in 2026 was informed by the emergency nature of Hajj operations, the BPP advertisement rule, and the tight timelines imposed by Saudi authorities on all participating countries.
The Commission emphasized that this approach aligns with Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which permits emergency procurement when time constraints make standard tender processes impracticable.
“The Saudi Hajj calendar is fixed, non-negotiable, and applies equally to all Hajj missions globally. Nigeria is not an exception,” the statement noted.
NAHCON clarified that re-engagement of service providers does not amount to automatic renewal of contracts or preservation of existing terms. Following the 2025 Hajj, the Commission said it conducted performance reviews, service evaluations, and satisfaction assessments across all service areas.
Based on these findings, it stressed, providers are re-engaged strictly on merit—considering past performance, operational capacity, compliance history, and ability to meet Saudi regulatory requirements within the available timeframe.
Reaffirming its guiding principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money, NAHCON warned against attempts to exploit the emergency nature of the 2026 operations to distort public understanding of its procurement decisions.
“Any engagement of service providers for 2026 is therefore informed by past performance and compliance, not by rollover or favoritism,” the Commission stated.
The Commission urged stakeholders with genuine concerns to formally submit complaints or requests for clarification, assuring that mechanisms for dispute resolution and fair hearing remain in place.
“Constructive engagement, not misinformation, is the path to strengthening Nigeria’s Hajj administration and safeguarding the welfare of pilgrims,” said Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON.
As preparations intensify for the 2026 pilgrimage, NAHCON reiterated its commitment to ensuring quality service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims, while maintaining institutional accountability and adherence to global Hajj regulations.
