The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, has kicked off early preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise, with a high-level delegation currently in Saudi Arabia to negotiate and finalize service agreements.
The team, led by NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman, is made up of Commissioners and the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mustapha M. Ali.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, the visit aligns with the operational timetable released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
“The Ministry has fixed September 6 to 23, 2025, for early contracting and payment for Mashair services. Other critical services such as transportation and accommodation must be concluded by September 23–24, 2025,” Usara stated.
She added that the Saudi authorities had also set October 12, 2025, as the deadline for the announcement of pilgrims’ registration and the submission of data for grouping via the Nusuk platform.
To meet these requirements, NAHCON has instructed state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies, commissions, and licensed Hajj tour operators to remit 2026 Hajj fares on or before October 8, 2025.
Professor Usman reaffirmed NAHCON’s commitment to smooth operations, stressing that early planning was crucial to avoiding last-minute challenges.
“Our priority is to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims receive the best services and that their spiritual journey is seamless. Meeting the Saudi deadlines is a responsibility we must all take seriously,” he said.
The Commission reminded stakeholders that it had earlier announced a provisional fare of ₦8.5 million for the 2026 pilgrimage, pending the outcome of negotiations on service contracts.
At a strategic meeting in Abuja last month, Usman disclosed that Nigeria retained its allocation of 95,000 slots for the 2026 Hajj, with distribution across states remaining the same as in 2025.
“We are building on the lessons from the last exercise to improve efficiency and deliver a better experience for pilgrims,” the NAHCON boss added.
