The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have partnered to strengthen and fully digitise Nigeria’s Hajj operations through technology and innovation.
In a statement posted on the verified Facebook Page of the NITDA, the partnership followed a high-level meeting between officials of both agencies at the NITDA headquarters in Abuja.
The NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, who led the delegation, sought NITDA’s technical expertise, training and guidance to improve the Commission’s digital and operational systems.
Ambassador Abba said Nigeria still faces challenges in areas such as hybrid pilgrim registration, payment verification, flight manifest management, logistics coordination and real-time tracking of pilgrims, even as Saudi Arabia advances towards comprehensive digital integration.
He noted that NAHCON already operates several digital platforms, including electronic registration systems, automated flight manifests, medical tracking systems and the GPS-enabled Hajj Companions mobile application.
However, he expressed concern over the Commission’s limited ICT manpower, revealing that only two developers are currently on its staff. He therefore stressed the need to train and better utilise existing ICT personnel to develop a stronger and more sustainable digital infrastructure.
The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, welcomed the initiative and said effective digital transformation goes beyond deploying software, requiring the integration of people, processes, organisational culture and technology.
Inuwa emphasised the need to develop sustainable systems that would remain effective beyond individual leadership tenures, eliminate data silos and utilise artificial intelligence to support better decision-making.
He said a modernised Hajj framework should provide end-to-end visibility throughout the pilgrim journey, from initial savings and registration to post-pilgrimage logistics.
The NITDA Director-General also pledged the agency’s technical support, practical training and strict IT project clearance to ensure quality and avoid common challenges associated with public-sector technology projects.
Both agencies agreed to establish a dedicated working relationship aimed at delivering a modern, efficient and pilgrim-centred digital Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims.