2026 Hajj: NAHCON concludes accommodation arrangements ahead of deadline

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has concluded accommodation arrangements in both Makkah and Madinah for this year’s edition of the holy pilgrimage ahead of the deadline set by Saudi authorities.

To ensure that Nigeria does not miss the February 8 deadline set by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for all participating countries to finalise accommodation arrangements, a NAHCON high-powered delegation departed the country for Saudi Arabia last Thursday to take over and finalize all pending accommodation arrangements both in Makkah and Madinah.

This, according to the commission, was to ensure early conclusion of state pilgrims’ accommodation with a view to ensuring edifull compliance with Saudi regulatory timelines for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

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The delegation made up of NAHCON Commission of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal; board members representing North-West, South-West and South-East, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman; Dr Tajudeen Oladejo and Hajiya Aishat Obi Ahmed, respectively, and Secretary to the Commission, Dr Mustapha Mohammed Ali.

Announcing the successful completion of accommodation arrangements, an elated NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, stated that the conclusion of the accommodation uploads and approval/acceptance by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah was in line with the directive of the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

According to a release signed and made available to Tribune Online in Abuja on Monday by the Technical Assistant (Media) to NAHCON Chairman, Ahmad Muazu, Shettima had directed that all critical Hajj arrangements should be finalised within approved Saudi timelines to safeguard Nigeria’s operational interests.

“The Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, hereby informs stakeholders, pilgrims, and the general public that the Commission has concluded accommodation arrangements for the 2026 Hajj in both Makkah and Madinah, ahead of the deadlines set by Saudi authorities.

“The conclusion of the accommodation uploads and approval/acceptance by the Saudi ministry of Hajj is in line with the directive of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, GCON, that all critical Hajj arrangements should be finalised within approved Saudi timelines to safeguard Nigeria’s operational interests,” the release read in part.

The NAHCON boss, however, acknowledges the roles played by Vice-President Shettima, those of the delegation dispatched to Saudi Arabia, the commission board, leadership of the Forum of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards as well as NAHCON Nusuk Masar team and staff and other stakeholders in achieving this feat.

He asserted that with the conclusion of accommodation arrangements, Nigeria has not only secured its accommodation for the 2026 Hajj but also positioned among countries that have completed this critical requirement within the prescribed timelines as the Hajj commission proceeds to the next phase of preparation for the 2026 Hajj.

“Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman acknowledges the guidance and support of the Vice-President throughout the process and notes the role played by the high-level delegation sent to Saudi Arabia, the NAHCON Board, the Nusuk Masar team, the leadership of the Forum of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, NAHCON staff and relevant stakeholders involved in the accommodation process.

“With the conclusion of these arrangements, Nigeria has secured its accommodation for the 2026 Hajj and is positioned among countries that have completed this critical requirement within the prescribed timelines.

“The Commission now proceeds to the next phase of operational preparations for the 2026 Hajj,” the release stated.

The 2026 Hajj marks a clear departure from previous operations in which there were no stricter timelines and compliance. All hajj participating countries were mandated by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and other authorities, including the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) to ensure compliance with the datelines set immediately after the completion of the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The 2026 Hajj guidelines entails that any participating country that missed out on any of the deadlines completely misses out on participating in this year’s spiritual exercise.

With the completion of the accommodation arrangements, the next phase of preparations is submission of pilgrims’ data and group information scheduled for February 6, while issuance of hajj visas commences on February 25 and ends on March 20.

According to the flight guidelines released by GACA, pilgrims from across the world are expected to start arriving Saudi Arabia as from Saturday, April 18, while end of arrival has been fixed for Thursday, May 21 by 23.59 GMT.

Pilgrims are to start departing Saudi Arabia from Saturday, May 30, while all pilgrims are expected to have left the host country by Tuesday, June 30.