By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
ABUJA – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to improve Hajj administration, enhance consular services and safeguard the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, during a courtesy visit at the ministry in Abuja.
Enikanolaiye said sustained diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia remained critical to the successful management of Hajj operations and pledged the ministry’s full support in facilitating negotiations, policy consultations and other official engagements relating to the annual pilgrimage.
Earlier, Yusuf congratulated the minister on his appointment and highlighted the importance of diplomacy in the smooth conduct of Hajj operations, noting that the annual movement of more than 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia requires close coordination between NAHCON, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the kingdom.
The NAHCON chairman announced that preparations for the 2027 Hajj had already begun in line with Saudi timelines, revealing that Nigeria had been allocated about 50,000 pilgrimage slots for the exercise.
He also disclosed that the 2026 Hajj was successfully conducted due to stricter due diligence in selecting service providers, improved contract management and stronger accountability measures.
On ongoing reforms by Saudi authorities, Yusuf said Nigeria had been informed of a proposal to transition Hajj operations to a predominantly private tour operator model. While acknowledging the potential benefits of the initiative, he stressed the need for a gradual implementation that reflects Nigeria’s demographic realities, digital infrastructure and the capacity of private operators.
He added that NAHCON would continue engaging Saudi authorities to protect Nigeria’s interests, while confirming that the annual Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries would be signed in November 2026.
Enikanolaiye commended NAHCON for what he described as a significantly improved 2026 Hajj exercise, praising the commission’s professionalism, meticulous planning and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
The meeting also reviewed measures to enhance future Hajj operations, including stricter medical screening for intending pilgrims, intensified public awareness on Saudi travel regulations, stronger institutional collaboration between the ministry and NAHCON, and closer engagement with Saudi authorities on emerging reforms in Hajj administration.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation to improve Hajj administration, expand consular support for Nigerian pilgrims and further consolidate bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
