Nigeria: NAHCON Chairman Concludes 2nd Pre-Hajj Visit to Saudi Arabia Ahead 2026 Exercise

The chairman and chief executive officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has concluded his second pre-Hajj visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria's preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

The visit, which took place from January 4 to January 19, 2026, was aimed at consolidating operational arrangements, strengthening coordination with Saudi authorities, and aligning Nigerian service providers and stakeholders with established Saudi timelines and standards for the forthcoming Hajj.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media), to the NAHCON Chairman.

According to the statement, the NAHCON delegation held a series of high-level engagements with key Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Saudi Ministry of Health, Mashā'ir service providers, accommodation and feeding companies, airlines, as well as Nigerian stakeholders based in the Kingdom.

The engagements yielded notable progress in critical areas such as airlift coordination, accommodation and feeding arrangements, Mashā'ir services, medical preparedness, and media coordination frameworks for the 2026 Hajj.

Among the major achievements recorded during the visit were the signing and initiation of service agreements, the upload of contracts and flight schedules on the Nusuk Masar platform, and the inspection and identification of clinics and medical facilities in Makkah and Madinah. The delegation also secured confirmation of unified medical screening requirements, alignment on digital health and operational platforms, and conducted diplomatic engagements with relevant authorities.

In addition, NAHCON concluded coordination meetings with state pilgrims' welfare boards and licensed tour operators, aimed at reinforcing compliance with agreed timelines, service standards, guidelines, and regulatory requirements ahead of the 2026 Hajj.

With the conclusion of the visit, the commission is set to transition into the next phase of preparations, which will include the finalisation of contracts, upload of pilgrims' data, commencement of medical screening, and sustained engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated Hajj exercise for Nigerian pilgrims.

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