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ABUJA – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to improve Hajj administration, enhance consular services and ensure better welfare for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Friday, the minister pledged the Ministry’s full support on all diplomatic, consular and bilateral matters relating to Hajj operations.
Enikanolaiye congratulated the leadership of NAHCON on what he described as the successful conduct of the 2026 Hajj exercise, commending the commission’s professionalism, meticulous planning and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
He stressed that sustained diplomatic engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains critical to the effective management of Hajj operations and assured NAHCON of the Ministry’s cooperation in facilitating negotiations, policy consultations and other official engagements.
Earlier, the NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, highlighted the importance of diplomacy in the annual Hajj exercise, noting that the movement of more than 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia each year requires close coordination between NAHCON, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.
Yusuf informed the minister that the 2026 Hajj exercise recorded significant improvements due to stricter due diligence in the engagement of service providers, improved contract management and stronger accountability measures.
He disclosed that preparations for the 2027 Hajj had already commenced in line with Saudi Arabia’s timelines, adding that Nigeria had been allocated about 50,000 pilgrimage slots for the exercise.
The NAHCON Chairman also briefed the minister on Saudi Arabia’s proposal to transition Nigeria’s Hajj operations to a predominantly private tour operator model.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of the initiative, Yusuf said the transition should be gradual and carefully implemented to reflect Nigeria’s demographic realities, digital infrastructure and the operational capacity of private operators.
He added that NAHCON would continue engaging Saudi authorities to ensure Nigeria’s interests are adequately protected.
Yusuf further disclosed that the annual Hajj Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to be signed in November 2026, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry throughout the process.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed measures to further improve future Hajj operations, including stricter medical screening for intending pilgrims, intensified public awareness campaigns on Saudi regulations and travel requirements, stronger institutional collaboration and enhanced engagement with Saudi authorities on ongoing reforms in Hajj administration.
The discussions also covered evolving Hajj management reforms in Saudi Arabia, particularly in accommodation, transportation and logistics, with both parties agreeing to sustain dialogue to protect the interests and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims while strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
