The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria is stepping up preparations for the 2026 Hajj season, buoyed by strong support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The aim is to offer Nigerian Muslims a more affordable, seamless, and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience.
Under the guidance of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, NAHCON has implemented proactive strategies to enhance service delivery, streamline operations, and reduce costs for prospective pilgrims.
Following President Tinubu’s directive to make the pilgrimage more affordable, the Commission announced significant reductions in the 2026 Hajj fares:
₦7,579,020.96 for the Borno/Adamawa Zone
₦7,696,769.76 for the Northern Zone
₦7,991,141.76 for the Southern Zone
This represents a drop of between ₦748,000 and ₦793,000 compared to last year’s rates, a move Professor Usman described as “a clear demonstration of the government’s genuine concern for Nigerian pilgrims.”
He further praised President Tinubu for his compassionate directive and Vice President Shettima for closely supervising NAHCON’s activities, noting that their support has inspired ongoing reforms within the Commission.
To ensure broad participation, NAHCON has set December 5, 2025, as the final date for pilgrims’ payments, urging all intending pilgrims to pay early to facilitate smooth processing of visas and other logistics.
In preparation for the upcoming pilgrimage, the Nigerian delegation, led by Professor Usman, attended the Hajj and Umrah Expo on November 9, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The event, which brought together international Hajj and Umrah stakeholders, offered an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and explore innovative approaches to pilgrimage management.
Earlier, Nigeria formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah season with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, officially confirming the country’s participation.
Professor Usman described the signing as “a major milestone that paves the way for structured, transparent, and efficient service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims.”
Meanwhile, NAHCON’s delegation in Saudi Arabia has completed inspections of hotels and catering facilities in Madinah to ensure high standards of hygiene, safety, and comfort. Led by Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal, Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), the team assessed over 20 hotels and seven catering facilities in the Markaziyya area.
A similar assessment is currently ongoing in Makkah, involving NAHCON Commissioners, Board Members, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, and officials from the Vice President’s Office.
Back in Nigeria, NAHCON continues to build staff capacity through its Monthly In-House Lecture and Training Series. The most recent session focused on “The Role of the National Reception Team in Successful Hajj Operations.”
Professor Usman emphasized that the Commission’s early preparations, reforms, and collaboration with Saudi partners demonstrate Nigeria’s readiness for a well-organized 2026 Hajj. “The welfare, safety, and comfort of Nigerian pilgrims remain our foremost priority,” he said.
With robust government support and strategic early planning, NAHCON’s initiatives herald a new era of efficiency, transparency, and improved welfare for pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj season.
Shafii Sani Mohammed is a Principal Information Officer, NAHCON.
