Nigeria’s private Hajj and Umrah tour operators have received an award of commendation from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in recognition of their performance in the area of Single Point of Communication (SPOC).
The award was presented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdelfattah bin Suliman Mashat, to the Nigerian delegation on the sidelines of the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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President of the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTOAN), Muhammad Auwal alongside Ustaz Abubakar Siddeeq Muhammad, the Managing Director of Comerel Travels & Tours, received the award on behalf of the country’s private tour operators.
Nigeria was among five countries and their representatives selected for the recognition out of more than 105 countries represented at the international gathering.
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The recognition places Nigeria among a select group of countries acknowledged by the Saudi Ministry for their performance in the SPOC category, highlighting the importance of effective communication and coordination between pilgrimage operators and Saudi authorities.
The award also represents international recognition of the contributions of Nigeria’s private tour operators to Hajj and Umrah operations and their engagement with Saudi authorities in facilitating pilgrimage services.
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The sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, holding from November 8 to 11, 2026, in Jeddah, brings together government officials, Hajj and Umrah service providers, tour operators and other stakeholders from across the world to discuss innovations, partnerships and improvements in pilgrimage services.
Hajj Gazette