The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, at the Hajj House in Abuja.
The delegation was led by Professor Dr. Ghassan Al-Nuaimi.
During the meeting, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, called for stronger collaboration and sustained cooperation between NAHCON and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims.
Prof. Usman formally requested additional Hajj slots for Nigeria, explaining that the country had already exhausted its allocated quota for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
He stressed that Nigeria’s large Muslim population and increasing interest in pilgrimage made the request necessary, adding that expanded cooperation would further enhance operational efficiency and pilgrims’ welfare.
In his presentation, the NAHCON Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, briefed the Saudi delegation on Nigeria’s level of preparedness for the Hajj.
He highlighted early planning initiatives undertaken by the commission, including engagements with airlines for airlift arrangements, accommodation plans in Makkah and Madinah, and the timely submission of pilgrims’ pre-arrival data to Saudi authorities.
Prince Elegushi noted that NAHCON was committed to meeting all operational timelines and complying with Saudi Hajj regulations to guarantee a hitch-free pilgrimage.
The Saudi delegation commended NAHCON’s efforts and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to continued partnership aimed at improving Hajj operations and service delivery for pilgrims.
