NAHCON Trains Hajj Operators Ahead of 2027 Pilgrimage
By Khadija Muhammad Umar
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a two-day professional training programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators to strengthen their capacity for the 2027 pilgrimage.
The programme, organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) in collaboration with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) and the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTON), is holding on October 26 and 27, 2026, in Kano and Lagos.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the initiative was designed to prepare Nigerian operators for changes in the global Hajj industry, particularly reforms associated with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the emerging business-to-business (B2B) model.
He disclosed that the commission had secured a three-year phased transition arrangement with Saudi authorities, beginning with 30 per cent private-sector participation in 2027.
According to him, the arrangement would provide time to strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory framework and prepare licensed operators for greater responsibilities in Hajj management.
Yusuf urged operators to maintain high professional standards and prioritise pilgrims’ welfare over commercial interests.
NAHCON Trains Hajj Operators Ahead of 2027 Pilgrimage
He also reaffirmed NAHCON’s commitment to professional certification, digital transformation and effective regulatory oversight of Hajj and Umrah operations.
The Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Professor Muhammad Nasirudeen Maiturare, said professional training was essential to improving pilgrimage management and service delivery.
He identified corporate governance, risk management, operational coordination and compliance with international service standards as critical areas requiring greater expertise among operators.
Maiturare also highlighted the institute’s academic programmes, including an MBA in Hajj Operations Management in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a National Diploma in Hospitality and Hajj Management in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education.
The training features sessions on professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrim welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers.
The programme is expected to improve operators’ preparedness for the 2027 pilgrimage as Nigeria responds to evolving international requirements and seeks to strengthen professionalism, accountability and service delivery across the Hajj and Umrah sector.
