The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ismail Yusuf Abba, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to improving efficiency in the delivery of services to Nigerian pilgrims by strengthening collaboration with its service provider ahead of the upcoming Hajj exercise.
Abba made the pledge in Abuja during a strategic meeting with officials of Mashariq Aldhahabiya, led by its Board Chairman, Mohammed Amin Hassan Andangiri.
The Saudi-based company is responsible for overseeing services provided to Nigerian pilgrims under the government quota in the Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, Ambassador Abba said the commission had drawn important lessons from challenges experienced during the 2025 Hajj, particularly issues relating to data mismatches involving flight manifests, contract numbers, and accommodation allocations, which affected the smooth processing of pilgrims.
He explained that NAHCON is determined to align its operations more closely with its service provider to prevent a recurrence of such challenges.
Both parties agreed to prioritise strict visa processing timelines, accurate data uploads, and verification of accommodation contracts before pilgrims depart Nigeria.
To strengthen coordination, NAHCON will also intensify compliance checks at departure centres to ensure that flight manifests and accommodation allocations correspond with approved records.
As part of the new measures, the two organisations agreed to establish a joint Situation Room that will provide real-time updates and enable swift resolution of operational issues during the pilgrimage.
The engagement forms part of NAHCON’s broader strategy to ensure a smooth and efficient Hajj operation for Nigerian pilgrims in the forthcoming pilgrimage exercise.