Data Capture Reopened: Immediate Steps for Fully Paid Intending Pilgrims
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabian authorities have reopened the pilgrims’ data capture portal for a limited seven-day period, creating a final opportunity for Nigerian intending pilgrims who had made full payment but were unable to complete registration due to documentation and operational challenges.
The reopening of the Nusuk Masar platform follows diplomatic engagements by the Federal Government with Saudi authorities after the initial closure of the portal.
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on the instruction of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, reached out to Saudi authorities to secure the extension to allow completion of Nigeria pilgrims data capturing.
The window is strictly procedural and aimed at resolving pending data capture cases; it does not extend to fresh payments or new registrations.
Fully paid intending pilgrims affected by the earlier closure are expected to act immediately by reporting to their respective State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards or licensed Private Tour Operators (PTOs) for prompt completion or validation of their data.
Required information includes valid international passport details, biometric records, photographs, and other mandatory personal data prescribed by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Pilgrims with partially captured profiles have been advised to review their records carefully and correct any discrepancies, as errors or omissions could lead to outright rejection on the Saudi platform.
NAHCON has warned that failure to complete data capture within the seven-day extension may result in exclusion from visa processing and subsequent Hajj logistics, regardless of payment status.
Also, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and private tour operators have been tasked with heightened responsibility during the extension period. They are expected to prioritize unresolved cases, deploy adequate technical personnel, and ensure swift and accurate upload of pilgrims’ data on the Nusuk Masar platform.
Operators have been cautioned to avoid delays, internal bottlenecks, or selective processing that could disadvantage fully paid pilgrims.
In addition, NAHCON has directed boards and tour operators to maintain transparent communication with pilgrims, provide confirmation of successful data submission, and strictly adhere to official guidelines.
The Commission has reiterated that no additional payments should be demanded from pilgrims under any guise, stressing that the extension is solely for data capture alignment.
With the clock ticking, stakeholders across the Hajj sector have been urged to treat the reopening as a final operational window.
Observers note that Saudi Arabia’s increasingly digital and deadline-driven Hajj framework leaves little room for flexibility, making compliance within the extension period critical to Nigeria’s participation outcomes for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
