The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a two-day professional capacity-building programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators in Kano and Lagos to strengthen regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and pilgrim satisfaction ahead of the 2027 Hajj.
According to the Head of Information and Publications Division, Shafii Sani Mohammed, the Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management, holding on Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, 2026, is organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) in collaboration with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) and the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTON).
Declaring the programme open, NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the initiative would prepare Nigerian operators for changes in the global Hajj industry driven by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms and the emerging business-to-business (B2B) model, which seeks to transition the management of hajj pilgrims to the private sector.
He disclosed that NAHCON had secured a three-year phased transition arrangement with the Saudi authorities, beginning with 30 per cent private-sector participation in 2027, to provide time for strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory framework and preparing operators for increased responsibilities.
The Chairman urged operators to uphold professional standards, emphasising that “the welfare of pilgrims must remain above commercial considerations.” He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to professional certification, digital transformation and effective regulatory oversight.
HIN Rector, Professor Muhammad Nasirudeen Maiturare, described professional training as essential to modern pilgrimage management, highlighting the need for expertise in corporate governance, risk management, operational coordination and international service standards.
He also highlighted HIN’s academic initiatives, including the MBA in Hajj Operations Management in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the National Diploma in Hospitality and Hajj Management in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education.
The programme features sessions on professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrim welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers.
The initiative is expected to strengthen operators’ preparedness for Hajj 2027 and support NAHCON’s efforts to build a professional, competitive and pilgrim-centred Hajj and Umrah industry in Nigeria.