By Muhammad Ahmad Musa
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Makkah Deputy Coordinator, Mr. Alidu Shutti, representing the Chairman/CEO, alongside Saudi Liaison Officer Ustaz Abubakar Lamin, welcomed a diplomatic delegation from the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh, led by Minister Counsellor Muhammad Sulaiman.
The visit aimed to provide updates on the state of Hajj preparations and explore avenues for further collaboration to ensure a successful 2025 pilgrimage exercise.
Mr. Shutti briefed the delegation on activities undertaken since the arrival of the NAHCON Advance Team into Makkah. He expressed gratitude to the Embassy for its consistent support and active involvement in facilitating the Hajj process along the lines of consular services. He further highlighted that NAHCON has successfully facilitated the movement of over 40,000 (forty thousand) Nigerian pilgrims to Makkah after the completion of their Madinah visit as the rest will later on follow suits.
The Nigerian Embassy delegation that accompanied the lead, included Minister Counsellor Abdulazeez Ibrahim Hong and two Administrative Attachés; Abubakar Aliyu and Lawal M. Baba.
Representing NAHCON at the meeting were Deputy Director of Makkah Accommodation, Bilkisu Awah; Assistant Director Jummai Zainab and other staff of the Commission at Makkah Office.
This diplomatic engagement underscores the collaborative efforts between NAHCON and the Nigerian Embassy to ensure a seamless and spiritually fulfilling Hajj experience for the Nigerian pilgrims this 2025 operation.