The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has appealed to all stakeholders to strictly adhere to the timelines set by the Saudi Arabian authorities for the 2026 Hajj operations.
The commission stressed that there would be no deadline extensions for visa processing, payments, or contractual agreements, urging all stakeholders to make early preparations.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, made this known in Abuja on Thursday during the Post-Hajj Stakeholders’ Meeting with Licensed Tour Operator Companies. The statement was issued by the commission’s Principal Information Officer, Malam Shafii Mohammed.
Elegushi warned stakeholders to strictly follow the official Saudi Hajj calendar, stressing that the days of seeking deadline extensions were over.
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“The Saudis have made it very clear — the dates on their calendar will not be extended by even a minute. Gone are the days when you could beg for extra weeks to process visas. For 2026, if the portal closes today, it closes today,” he said.
He recalled the 2025 Hajj experience, where many intending pilgrims missed deadlines after wrongly assuming that Saudi authorities would grant extensions, leading to the loss of participation slots.
Elegushi also referred to the challenges experienced during Arafat 2025, describing them as a valuable lesson for future planning.
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“What happened in 2025 has given us insight and direction. We must learn from it, plan better, and work faster. The Saudi system has changed, and we must adapt quickly,” he added.
On financial preparations, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Prince Aliu AbdulRazaq, briefed participants on refunds, pending complaints, and payment processes. He urged licensed tour operators to make timely payments for all Hajj-related obligations, reiterating that Saudi authorities would not grant extensions in 2026.
The Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, commended state pilgrims’ welfare boards, private tour operators, and service providers for their contributions to the success of the 2025 Hajj. He also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government, which, he said, enabled Nigerian pilgrims to perform Hajj with dignity and comfort.
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“The commission is committed to collaboration, fairness and transparency. At the same time, we expect total compliance from all stakeholders as we work together to improve service delivery and meet global best practices,” Usman said.
Similarly, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof. Abubakar Yagawal, commended tour operators for their successful outing during the 2025 Hajj. He called for continued cooperation among all stakeholders and urged intending pilgrims to ensure early payments and preparations for an improved 2026 Hajj experience.
