NAHCON announces date for 2026 Hajj, backs new training centre

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the inaugural airlift for the 2026 Hajj will commence on May 3, as part of efforts to ensure a smoother and more efficient pilgrimage exercise.

The disclosure was made on Sunday by NAHCON Commissioner for Operations, Hanafi Olanrewaju Elegbushi, at the inauguration of a Hajj training and resource centre in Lagos.

Elegbushi said the commission was committed to improving Hajj operations through better planning and collaboration with stakeholders, assuring intending pilgrims of enhanced arrangements for the 2026 exercise.

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He noted that NAHCON would partner with the newly established institute to strengthen capacity building, including facilitating certification for its training programmes.

According to him, inadequate knowledge remains a major challenge for many pilgrims, leading to incomplete performance of Hajj rites.

“Many pilgrims do not complete their rites due to inadequate knowledge. This initiative is meant to address that gap and ensure a more fulfilling pilgrimage experience,” he said.

The NAHCON official also cautioned content creators against inappropriate conduct during pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, urging authorities to sensitise pilgrims on proper dressing and acceptable behaviour before, during, and after Hajj.

The training facility, established by the Like-Minds of Ulamah Community Development Association (South-West), is aimed at equipping Hajj operators, guides, and tour managers with the requisite knowledge for both Hajj and Umrah operations.

Speaking at the event, the association’s chairman, Abdulahi Ahmad Jebe, described the centre as a strategic platform to improve service delivery and address operational challenges in Hajj administration.

Jebe said the initiative would provide both spiritual and practical training for pilgrims and operators, noting that effective Hajj management depends largely on the competence of guides.

He added that the association had expanded the number of trained Islamic scholars in the region to over 250, up from about 25 previously.

The centre, named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Islamic clerics and stakeholders from across the South-West.

In a lecture at the event, prominent Islamic scholar, Saanu Shehu, emphasised the importance of proper knowledge in performing Hajj rites, warning that religious titles do not necessarily translate to competence.

He commended Hajj operations in some states, particularly Lagos and Osun, describing them as among the best in the country.

The event also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders and recognition awards for governors and key contributors in the Hajj and Umrah sector.