President Tinubu, VP Shettima support NAHCON’s drive for affordable, Well-organized 2026 Hajj

President Tinubu, VP Shettima support NAHCON’s drive for affordable, Well-organized 2026 Hajj

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has intensified preparations for the 2026 Hajj, coupled with the strong support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The move aims to ensure a more affordable, seamless, and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims.

Under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, NAHCON has launched wide-ranging reforms to enhance service delivery, streamline operations, and cut costs for intending pilgrims.

In line with President Tinubu’s directive to make the exercise more affordable, the Commission has announced a significant reduction in Hajj fares for 2026.

The new rates are ₦7,579,020.96 for the Borno/Adamawa Zone, ₦7,696,769.76 for the Northern Zone, and ₦7,991,141.76 for the Southern Zone. This represents a decrease of between ₦748,000 and ₦793,000 compared to last year’s rates.

Professor Usman described the fare cut as “a clear demonstration of the government’s genuine concern for Nigerian pilgrims.” He commended President Tinubu for his compassionate leadership and Vice President Shettima for his close supervision of NAHCON’s activities, saying their support has strengthened the Commission’s reform agenda.

To allow for smooth logistics and visa processing, NAHCON has fixed December 5, 2025, as the deadline for all intending pilgrims to complete their payments.

As part of early preparations, a Nigerian delegation led by Professor Usman attended the Hajj and Umrah Expo on November 9, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The global event brought together key stakeholders in the pilgrimage industry, providing NAHCON an opportunity to foster partnerships and explore innovations in Hajj management.

Nigeria has also signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah season with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, formally confirming the country’s participation in next year’s pilgrimage.

Professor Usman described the signing as “a major milestone that paves the way for structured, transparent, and efficient service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims.”

Meanwhile, NAHCON’s delegation in Saudi Arabia, led by Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal, Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services, has completed inspections of hotels and catering facilities in Madinah.

The team assessed over 20 hotels and seven catering centres to ensure compliance with hygiene, safety, and comfort standards.

A similar exercise is underway in Makkah, involving NAHCON Commissioners, Board Members, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, and officials from the Office of the Vice President.

Back home, NAHCON continues to build staff capacity through its Monthly In-House Lecture and Training Series. The latest session focused on “The Role of the National Reception Team in Successful Hajj Operations.”

Professor Usman affirmed that the Commission’s proactive planning, institutional reforms, and strengthened collaboration with Saudi authorities demonstrate Nigeria’s readiness for a smooth and well-coordinated 2026 Hajj.

“The welfare, safety, and comfort of Nigerian pilgrims remain our foremost priority,” he said.