RismadarVoice Reporters
July 29, 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the successful conduct of the 2026 Hajj exercise, describing the operation as a benchmark for future pilgrimages.
Shettima gave the commendation on Wednesday while receiving the Board and management of NAHCON, alongside representatives of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation briefed the Vice President on the outcome of the just-concluded Hajj exercise and outlined plans for future operations.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President praised NAHCON, the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and other stakeholders for what he described as an almost seamless Hajj operation.
He urged the Commission to build on the success of the 2026 exercise by adopting measures that would guarantee a completely hitch-free pilgrimage in subsequent years.
“The performance recorded during the 2026 Hajj should serve as the benchmark going forward,” Shettima said, while encouraging authorities to pursue a more sustainable operational model.
Earlier, NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, briefed the Vice President on the outcome of the pilgrimage and informed him of Saudi Arabia’s decision to adopt a business-to-business model for Hajj operations.
According to Yusuf, the Saudi authorities have transferred the handling of about 98 per cent of pilgrims to private tour operators as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms, while Hajj commissions and similar agencies would retain regulatory oversight.
He said the new framework would see NAHCON focus on its regulatory responsibilities, with operational aspects of the pilgrimage increasingly handled by the private sector.
The NAHCON chairman assured the Vice President that the Commission was fully committed to implementing the new arrangement and had already begun preparations to ensure a smooth transition.
