The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has hosted a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah at its headquarters in Abuja, as both sides reviewed preparations for the upcoming Hajj exercise.
Receiving the delegation, led by Professor Dr. Ghassan Al-Nuaimi, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, called for deeper collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia and formally requested additional Hajj slots, noting that Nigeria has already exhausted its allocated quota.
The NAHCON Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, briefed the delegation on Nigeria’s readiness, outlining early planning measures, airline engagements, accommodation arrangements in Makkah and Madinah, and the timely submission of pre-arrival pilgrim data.
Elegushi stressed that no pilgrim would be allowed to depart Nigeria without complete documentation submitted at least 72 hours before travel, in line with Saudi regulatory requirements.
He also sought Saudi intervention on accommodation allocation and airline approvals, while raising concerns over recurring visa-related challenges, which the Saudi delegation agreed to review through appropriate technical channels.
To address overstay concerns, NAHCON disclosed plans to introduce biometric data capture and deploy a centralised pilgrim tracking system to improve monitoring and compliance.
In response, the Saudi delegation emphasised the need for strict adherence to international Hajj timelines, warning that early preparation is mandatory and that extensions may not be granted.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained cooperation, with the Saudi officials pledging continued technical support and engagement through diplomatic channels to ensure a safe, orderly and successful Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims.
