By Shafii Sani Mohammed The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to full regulatory compliance and operational excellence during a weekly preparatory meeting held virtually with the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah in charge of International Collaboration, Dr. Al Hassan Manakhra.
The weekly meeting is part of sustained coordination efforts aimed at ensuring seamless arrangements for the 2026 Hajj. Discussions focused on visa processing, pilgrims’ grouping, health certification compliance, flight scheduling, and accommodation synchronization.
During the meeting, it was disclosed that 10,554 visa applications have been uploaded into the Nusuk Masar system, with 1,734 visas issued. The need to conclude visa processing in 16 days as visa processing ends on 1st Shawwal.
Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba assured the Saudi Ministry that NAHCON will strictly adhere to all stipulated deadlines and will not seek extensions, stressing that all processes will be completed before the visa system closes.
The Commission reported that over 70% of pilgrim grouping has been completed while Medical approvals for visas of over 10,000 has been uploaded so far.
A major highlight of the meeting was the firm warning issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah regarding need for full compliance with health requirements by all pilgrims.
Dr Al Hassan Manakhra announced that random health checks will be conducted at entry points into the Kingdom to verify the authenticity and accuracy of submitted health certificates. Any pilgrim found with a fake or falsified fitness certificate will be returned to Nigeria immediately while the signatories of his or her cetificate will be sanctioned accordingly.
NAHCON Chairman reiterated the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on irregularities and emphasized that the Commission has instituted multiple safeguards, including:
• The use of designated and accredited hospitals for screening.
• Verification of each certificate through the doctor’s registration number.
• Multiple layers of internal review before clearance.
He further disclosed that, in addition to pre-departure screening, health checks will also be conducted at various departure centres across Nigeria by medical professionals of the National Medical Team to ensure that only medically fit pilgrims are airlifted.
He stressed that NAHCON will not compromise on health standards under any circumstance, noting that safeguarding pilgrims and protecting Nigeria’s reputation remain paramount.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj also addressed the need for full alignment between flight schedules and confirmed accommodation, particularly in Madinah, to prevent logistical challenges experienced in previous years.
Ambassador Abba assured the Saudi Ministry that no pilgrim will depart Nigeria without secured accommodation and that coordination with Saudi service providers has been strengthened to ensure seamless operations.
The Chairman expressed appreciation to the Saudi Ministry for its cooperation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustained weekly coordination meetings until the successful completion of all 2026 Hajj preparations.