The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ismail Abba, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to improving the delivery of services to Nigerian pilgrims by strengthening coordination with its service provider.
Abba made this known in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of Mashariq Aldhahabiya, a Saudi-based firm responsible for overseeing services provided to Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in Saudi Arabia. The delegation was led by the company’s Board Chairman, Mohammed Andangiri.
During the meeting, Abba said the commission had drawn important lessons from operational challenges experienced during the 2025 Hajj exercise. According to him, issues such as data mismatches between flight manifests, contract numbers and accommodation allocations disrupted the smooth processing of pilgrims.
He stressed that the commission is taking steps to prevent a recurrence by improving data management and operational coordination with the service provider.
Both parties agreed to prioritise strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads and proper verification of accommodation contracts before pilgrims depart Nigeria.
The commission also disclosed that compliance checks would be intensified at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests correspond with approved accommodation allocations.
As part of efforts to improve coordination, NAHCON and its service partner also agreed to establish a joint Situation Room that will provide real-time operational updates and address emerging challenges during the pilgrimage period.
The engagement forms part of the commission’s broader strategy to ensure smoother Hajj operations and improved service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims.
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