NAHCON Launches Early Medical Planning Ahead of 2026 Hajj
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has formally commenced preparations for the 2026 Hajj medical operations, signalling an early start to healthcare planning for Nigerian pilgrims.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with State Medical Team Leads at the Hajj House, Abuja. He said the engagement marked the beginning of structured and coordinated preparations for medical services ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage.
Professor Usman stressed that healthcare delivery during Hajj is a core responsibility that requires advance planning, strict coordination, and full compliance with health guidelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the 2026 Hajj health guidelines released by Saudi authorities are binding on all participating countries, including Nigeria, and must be implemented without deviation.
“We are here to begin structured preparations for the 2026 Hajj medical operations and to align fully with the health guidelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These guidelines shape our operational decisions, and Nigeria must comply fully and without hesitation,” he said.
The NAHCON chairman noted that the Commission is determined to ensure that medical services for Nigerian pilgrims meet acceptable international and Saudi standards, adding that this would require discipline, professionalism, and unity of purpose among NAHCON, state pilgrims’ boards, and medical teams.
He assured state medical teams of NAHCON’s full support, guidance, and oversight to ensure that no aspect of pilgrim healthcare is compromised during the 2026 Hajj exercise.
Responding on behalf of the states, Chairman of the States’ Pilgrims Welfare Boards Forum, Senator Idris Almakura, commended NAHCON for initiating early preparations and called on states to rise to their responsibilities.
Almakura urged state medical teams and pilgrims’ boards to begin preparations in earnest, stressing that early planning remains critical to effective healthcare delivery during Hajj.
He emphasised that states must take ownership of their roles, particularly in mobilising competent medical personnel and ensuring compliance with prescribed standards, in order to safeguard the health and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
The meeting is part of NAHCON’s broader strategy to strengthen medical preparedness and avoid last-minute challenges in the delivery of healthcare services during the annual pilgrimage.
