NAHCON Begins Inspection of Travel Agencies Seeking 2027 Hajj, Umrah Licences
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced the inspection of travel agencies that applied for licences to operate Hajj and Umrah services in the 2027 pilgrimage season.
The inspection forms part of the commission’s screening process to assess the capacity, facilities and operational readiness of companies seeking approval to participate in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations.
Hajj Gazette gathered that no fewer than 200 travel agencies have submitted applications for licensing ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage season, underscoring the growing interest of private-sector operators in Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah industry.
The inspection is expected to enable NAHCON to determine which applicants meet the regulatory and operational requirements for participation in the pilgrimage operations.
Meanwhile, some intending pilgrims who registered and paid for the 2026 Hajj through private travel agencies have expressed concerns over the delay in invitations to submit their international passports for the 2027 pilgrimage.
NAHCON Begins Inspection of Travel Agencies Seeking 2027 Hajj, Umrah Licences
The concerns have emerged as several state pilgrims’ welfare boards have advanced preparations for the 2027 Hajj, with some states already directing intending pilgrims to submit their passports and announcing deadlines for the exercise.
Some pilgrims have consequently questioned whether private tour operators follow a separate timeline for passport submission and other preparatory activities for the 2027 Hajj.
However, the delay appears linked to the ongoing licensing and screening process, as NAHCON has yet to formally publish the list of travel agencies approved to participate in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations.
“It is expected that the commission will soon release the list of successful applicants after completing the inspection and other stages of the licensing process,” a source at the commission told Hajj Gazette.
The source added that, once the approved companies emerge, private operators are expected to communicate subsequent requirements, including passport submission and other documentation, to pilgrims registered through their platforms.
The development highlights the importance of regulatory clearance before private operators commence full-scale preparations for the 2027 Hajj season.
