Hajj Operations: NAHCON Proposes Phased Implementation of Saudi Private Operator Model

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the proposed transition of Nigerian pilgrims from the current public Hajj administration system to a private tour operator model will be implemented gradually.

NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yussuf, disclosed this while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following a proposal by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to migrate 98 per cent of Nigeria’s traditional public Hajj quota to a business-to-business framework.

This was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, on Friday, July 31.

Yussuf said the immediate implementation of the new arrangement would not be feasible due to the long-standing structure involving NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards in coordinating pilgrimage operations.

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According to him, the commission has received official communication from Saudi authorities regarding the policy shift but is advocating a phased approach to prevent disruptions and address potential economic and operational challenges.

He said, “the sudden planned migration of 98% of the country’s traditional public Hajj quota to a private tour operator framework will not be feasible given the long-established public administration system managed by NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards.”

The NAHCON chairman warned that a sudden transition could affect existing arrangements between both governments and negatively impact the accessibility and affordability of Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims.

He explained that the proposed change could “undermine existing Government-to-Government understandings, disrupt established operational arrangements, weaken the statutory role of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, and adversely affect the affordability, accessibility, and orderly management of Hajj for ordinary Nigerian pilgrims.”

Yussuf said Nigeria supports Saudi Arabia’s move towards digital transformation and increased private sector participation in Hajj operations but stressed that such reforms should be carried out through consultation and a structured transition process.

He added that “while Nigeria fully supports Saudi’s digital transformation agenda and the expansion of private sector participation in Hajj operations, the Commission believes that such reforms should be implemented through mutual consultation and a carefully managed transition.”

The proposed business-to-business model is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to reform Hajj management by increasing the role of private operators in providing services to pilgrims from different countries.