NAHCON to implement Saudi Hajj proposal in phases

By Precious Mark

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, says it will implement in phases the Saudi Arabia proposal to move 98% of Nigeria’s public Hajj quota to private tour operators.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President.

Chairman of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yussuf, made the disclosure while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Yussuf said the commission received an official communication from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on the new business-to-business model for future Hajj operations.

He said a sudden migration to the private operator model would not work because Nigeria already has a public system run by NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards for many years.

According to him, an immediate change would affect existing government-to-government agreements between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. It would also disrupt current operational arrangements, reduce the role of state pilgrims’ boards, and make Hajj more expensive and difficult to manage for ordinary Nigerian pilgrims.

The NAHCON chairman said Nigeria supports Saudi Arabia’s plan to expand the role of the private sector and introduce digital systems in Hajj operations.

However, he said such reforms should be done through discussion and a gradual process to avoid problems.

He explained that the commission has proposed a phased implementation to reduce economic and operational risks associated with the policy shift.