Sokoto Uploads 2,404 Pilgrims’ Data on Saudi Nusuk Masar Portal
By Faiza Musa Adamu
The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has confirmed the successful upload of data for all 2,404 registered intending pilgrims from the state onto the Saudi Nusuk Masar Portal, ahead of the platform’s official closure.
According to a statement issued by Faruku Umar, the Head of Information and Communications, the Chairman of the Agency, Alhaji Aliyu Musa, disclosed this during a meeting with Assistant Hajj Registration Officers drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Umar stated that the chairmen said the closure of the Masar Portal signals the commencement of a new operational phase for the 2026 Hajj exercise. He noted that the Saudi authorities, in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), have introduced a series of policy reforms designed to enhance coordination, transparency, and efficiency in Hajj operations.
Among the new measures, he said, is a directive to airlines to issue flight tickets well in advance of departure. Each pilgrim is expected to have clear knowledge of their exact departure date, time, and location.
He warned that failure to board a scheduled flight will attract penalties, stressing that flight tickets will be digitally integrated with each pilgrim’s Nusuk Card, thereby eliminating operational loopholes associated with no-shows.
Alhaji Musa further explained that pilgrims will now travel in structured groups of 45. Under the new arrangement, each group will depart together, share accommodation in Makkah, Madinah, and the Masha’ir, and return to Nigeria as a unit after completing the pilgrimage.
He also revealed that NAHCON is now required to upload pre-arrival data onto the Nusuk Masar platform at least 72 hours before the departure of any aircraft conveying pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, pilgrims will not be permitted to change travel groups after visa issuance.
The Chairman assured that the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has recalibrated its registration and operational processes to align fully with the new regulatory framework. He emphasized that the adjustments are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of Sokoto pilgrims and ensuring a seamless 2026 Hajj exercise.
The development positions Sokoto among states that have completed their data upload ahead of the Saudi deadline, as preparations intensify for the forthcoming pilgrimage.
