The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has cautioned stakeholders in the Hajj industry to strictly comply with deadlines set by Saudi Arabian authorities for the 2026 Hajj, warning that there will be no room for extensions on visa processing, payments, or contractual obligations.
The warning came during a post-Hajj stakeholders’ meeting with licensed tour operator companies, held on Thursday at the Hajj House in Abuja.
The session was chaired by NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, alongside the Commissioner of Operations, Anofiu Elegushi, and the Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, Aliu AbdulRazaq.
Prof. Usman commended the contributions of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, private operators, and service providers during the 2025 Hajj, while also acknowledging the support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to him, government backing enabled Nigerian pilgrims to perform the pilgrimage “with dignity, comfort, and peace of mind.”
He stressed that while NAHCON is committed to fairness, transparency, and collaboration, stakeholders must ensure full compliance with global best practices.
Commissioner Elegushi emphasized the need for early preparations, warning that Saudi authorities have made it clear there will be no tolerance for delays.
“The Saudis have made it very clear the dates on their calendar will not be extended by even a minute. Gone are the days when you could beg for extra weeks to process visas. For 2026, if the portal closes today, it closes today,” Elegushi stated.
Reflecting on the 2025 exercise, he noted that complacency among some operators led to missed slots. “What happened in 2025 has given us insight and direction. We must learn from it, plan better, and work faster. The Saudi system has changed, and we must adapt quickly,” he added.
On financial matters, Commissioner AbdulRazaq underscored the importance of early payments, warning that Saudi authorities will not grant concessions. He also briefed stakeholders on pending refunds and unresolved complaints from 2025.
Similarly, Prof. Abubakar Yagawal, Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services, praised operators for their conduct during the last pilgrimage but urged timely remittances to guarantee a smoother experience in 2026.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from NAHCON’s Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, Alhaji Alidu Shutti, who described the engagement as “one of the most productive between NAHCON management and licensed tour operators in recent times.”
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