The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has commenced early arrangements for the 2026 Hajj with a high-level delegation in Saudi Arabia to finalize service agreements.
The team, led by NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman, includes Commissioners and the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mustapha M. Ali.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at the Commission, Fatima Usara, said their visit follows the operational calendar released by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
It stated that the authorities have set September 6–23, 2025, for early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps).
The statement said, “Essential services such as transportation and accommodation must also be secured by September 23–24, 2025.
“The Ministry further fixed October 12, 2025, as the final date for the announcement of pilgrims’ registration and submission of data for grouping via the Nusuk platform.”
The statement said that to meet these deadlines, NAHCON has directed State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and licensed Hajj tour operators to remit Hajj fares for the 2026 pilgrimage no later than October 8, 2025.
The statement added, “The Commission urged all stakeholders to comply strictly with the timeline to ensure smooth operations and a successful pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims.”
Recall that the Commission had earlier announced a provisional fare of N8.5 million for the 2026 Hajj exercise, as part of early preparations for the pilgrimage, “pending final negotiations on all service contracts.”
The tentative figure was disclosed at a strategic post-Hajj meeting held on August 7, 2025, at the Hajj House Headquarters in Abuja.
NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, made the announcement during the meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, aimed at reviewing the 2025 Hajj operations and initiating planning for the upcoming year.
Usman also disclosed that Nigeria had retained its “95,000-slot allocation” from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj.
“Similarly, allocation of slots to state welfare boards remains as it was last year,” the Commission added—effectively maintaining the distribution formula used during the 2025 pilgrimage.
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