The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed claims that it sought approval to roll over contracts awarded to service providers for the 2025 Hajj into the 2026 operations, describing such reports as false and misleading.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON. the Commission said it did not at any time request rollover approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), clarifying that decisions taken for the 2026 Hajj were guided by the emergency nature of Hajj operations and the tight timelines set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the NAHCON Chairman and CEO, explained that the Saudi Hajj calendar is fixed and non-negotiable for all participating countries, leaving limited room for conventional tender processes. He noted that this necessitated reliance on provisions of Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which permits emergency procurement where time constraints make standard bidding impracticable.
The Commission further stressed that re-engaging service providers does not amount to an automatic renewal of 2025 contracts or preservation of previous terms. It noted that comprehensive performance reviews and service evaluations were conducted after the 2025 Hajj, and that NAHCON retains the discretion to revise contractual scope, volume and terms based on performance outcomes.
NAHCON reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, value for money and quality service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims, adding that considerations for 2026 engagements include past performance, operational capacity, compliance history and the ability to meet Saudi regulatory requirements within the available timeframe.
The Commission warned against attempts to exploit the emergency nature of the 2026 Hajj to undermine its statutory mandate or mislead the public on procurement processes. It urged stakeholders with genuine concerns to channel complaints or requests for clarification through established dispute resolution mechanisms.
“Constructive engagement, not misinformation, is the path to strengthening Nigeria’s Hajj administration and safeguarding the welfare of pilgrims,” the statement said.
The press release was signed by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON.
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