The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to improve Hajj administration, consular services and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance while receiving the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
During the meeting, Ambassador Yusuf congratulated the minister on his appointment and stressed the importance of diplomacy in ensuring successful Hajj operations, noting that the annual movement of more than 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia requires close coordination between NAHCON, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.
The NAHCON chairman said the 2026 Hajj exercise was successfully conducted due to stricter due diligence in engaging service providers, improved contract management and enhanced accountability. He also disclosed that preparations for the 2027 Hajj had commenced in line with Saudi timelines, with Nigeria allocated about 50,000 pilgrimage slots.
Yusuf further informed the minister of Saudi Arabia’s proposal to transition Nigeria’s Hajj operations to a predominantly private tour operator model. While acknowledging the potential benefits, he advocated a gradual implementation that considers Nigeria’s demographic realities, digital infrastructure and the operational capacity of private operators.
He added that the annual Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia would be signed in November 2026, assured that NAHCON would continue working closely with the Ministry throughout the process.
Responding, Ambassador Enikanolaiye congratulated NAHCON on the successful conduct of the 2026 Hajj, describing it as a significant improvement over previous exercises. He commended the Commission’s professionalism, careful planning and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
The minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to support NAHCON on all diplomatic, consular and bilateral matters related to Hajj operations, stressing that sustained engagement with Saudi authorities remains vital for effective pilgrimage management.
Both parties also reviewed measures to improve future Hajj exercises, including stricter medical screening for intending pilgrims, increased public awareness on Saudi regulations and travel requirements, stronger institutional coordination and closer engagement with Saudi authorities on ongoing reforms in Hajj administration.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation to strengthen Hajj administration, enhance consular support, protect the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and further consolidate bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
