The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has kickstarted preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise, just days after concluding the 2025 pilgrimage.
Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Kano, shortly after returning from Saudi Arabia.
Prof. Usman described the 2025 Hajj as a success, citing positive feedback from Nigerian pilgrims and critical stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly Committees on Foreign Affairs and Hajj Affairs.
“We have learned a lot from this year’s Hajj. We intend to deliver a better and more efficient operation in 2026,” he stated.
The NAHCON chairman encouraged all intending pilgrims to begin the registration process early, stressing that the Saudi authorities have introduced stricter timelines for finalizing all pilgrimage logistics.
“We have received clear instructions from the Saudi authorities that they will not wait for any country to finalise their arrangements late. They want all logistics concluded early,” he added.
Prof. Usman also revealed that the Commission is currently seeking approval to announce the 2026 Hajj fare, urging Nigerians interested in performing the pilgrimage to register as soon as possible.
