NAHCON: SAUDI’S PROPOSAL TO MIGRATE NIGERIAN PILGRIMS TO PRIVATE TOUR OPERATOR MODEL TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN PHASES

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the proposed business-to-business model for future hajj operations recommended by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will be implemented in phases.

Chairman of the Commission, Amb. Ismail Abba Yussuf, made the disclosure while fielding questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He noted that the sudden planned migration of 98% of the country’s traditional public Hajj quota to a private tour operator framework will not be feasible given the long-established public administration system managed by NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards.

The NAHCON boss said though the commission has received an official policy communication from the Saudi authorities about the decision, it is proposing a phased implementation of the new arrangement due to the significant economic and operational risks.

He explained that the structural shift of the proposed policy would undermine existing Government-to-Government understandings, disrupt established operational arrangements, weaken the statutory role of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, and adversely affect the affordability, accessibility, and orderly management of Hajj for ordinary Nigerian pilgrims.

Amb. Yusuf maintained that while Nigeria fully supports Saudi’s digital transformation agenda and the expansion of private sector participation in Hajj operations, the Commission believes that such reforms should be implemented through mutual consultation and a carefully managed transition.

Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
(Office of The Vice President)
31st July, 2026