The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has praised various stakeholders for their contributions toward the successful conduct of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The commendation was given by the Chairman of NAHCON, Amb. Ismail Yusuf, during a Post-Arafat Review Meeting held in Makkah on Sunday night.
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The meeting was organised as part of the commission’s assessment process to evaluate the exercise, receive feedback from stakeholders, review operational performance and identify areas for improvement in future pilgrimages.
Yusuf expressed appreciation to the commission’s workforce, state pilgrims’ welfare officials, medical personnel, Islamic scholars, media practitioners and other stakeholders for their dedication and support throughout the Hajj operations.
He noted that the collective efforts of all participants contributed significantly to the smooth execution of the pilgrimage.
“Everyone involved has performed admirably, and we sincerely appreciate the commitment and hard work demonstrated throughout the exercise.
“We commend NAHCON staff, officials of the various state pilgrims’ boards, the medical team, members of the Ulama who offered spiritual guidance, as well as our traditional rulers who provided leadership and support to the pilgrims.
“We are grateful for your contributions, which played a key role in achieving this modest success,” Yusuf stated.
The NAHCON chairman emphasised the importance of patience in managing an event as large and complex as the Hajj, describing it as one of the key factors behind the success recorded.
He explained that coordinating the movement and welfare of approximately 1.7 million pilgrims within a limited geographical area naturally presents challenges relating to space, security and crowd management.
According to him, pilgrims and officials alike must embrace patience, particularly during a spiritual journey of such magnitude.
“As Muslims undertaking a sacred obligation, patience is a virtue we must uphold. Those entrusted with the welfare of pilgrims should exemplify this quality at all times,” he said.
Yusuf acknowledged that a few shortcomings were observed during the 2026 exercise but assured stakeholders that lessons learned would be used to enhance future operations.
He said the commission would carefully review identified challenges and communicate areas requiring improvement to relevant stakeholders to ensure better outcomes in subsequent Hajj exercises.
“Where mistakes have occurred, necessary corrections will be made. We have an opportunity to address the gaps identified and strengthen future operations.
“At the appropriate time, we will engage stakeholders on areas where improvements are needed so that appropriate measures can be implemented,” he added.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate Sub-Committee on Hajj, Senator Ali Ndume, commended NAHCON for the successful organisation of the pilgrimage.
Ndume praised the commission’s leadership, planning and coordination, noting that Nigerian pilgrims were able to complete the Hajj rites despite the enormous logistical and operational demands associated with the exercise.
He also acknowledged the contributions of state pilgrims’ welfare boards, service providers and other partners whose efforts supported the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
“The successes recorded during the 2026 Hajj demonstrate the dedication of NAHCON and its partners to enhancing the welfare and overall experience of Nigerian pilgrims,” he said.
While applauding the achievements recorded, the senator encouraged the commission to address the challenges encountered during the exercise and continue working towards improved service delivery in future Hajj operations.
NAN
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