NAHCON trains Hajj operators ahead of 2027 pilgrimage
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a two-day training programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators to prepare them for changes in pilgrimage management ahead of the 2027 Hajj.
The programme, which began on Monday, October 26, 2026, is holding in Kano and Lagos under the Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management.
It 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 and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the training would prepare Nigerian operators for reforms in the global Hajj industry driven by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the emerging business-to-business (B2B) model.
The model is expected to increase private-sector involvement in the management of Hajj pilgrims.
Yusuf disclosed that the commission had secured a three-year phased transition arrangement with Saudi authorities, beginning with 30 per cent private-sector participation in 2027.
He said the arrangement would give Nigeria time to strengthen its regulatory framework and prepare licensed operators to take on greater responsibilities.
The NAHCON chairman urged operators to maintain professional standards and prioritise pilgrims’ welfare over commercial interests.
“The welfare of pilgrims must remain above commercial considerations,” he said.
