The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has signed the 2026 hajj transportation agreement as part of its preparations for the forthcoming pilgrimage.

NAHCON’s chairman, Ismail Abba, announced this in a statement on Wednesday. While speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Abba charged the participating airlines to strictly adhere to operational standards and timelines.

He described the signing agreement as a defining milestone in the commission’s readiness for the 2026 hajj. According to him, transportation operations are a critical component of the pilgrimage arrangements and must be handled with utmost professionalism, precision, and commitment.

The NAHCON chairman commended the airlines for their previous performances, emphasising that strict compliance with the provisions of the agreement remained non-negotiable.

He said that hajj operations were time-bound and required careful coordination to ensure that all Nigerian pilgrims were transported to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within stipulated timelines.

Mr Abba disclosed that the agreement includes clear compliance measures, including recovery timelines for any airline that falls behind schedule, as well as alternative arrangements, where necessary, to prevent disruptions.

He assured stakeholders that NAHCON would diligently discharge its oversight responsibilities to protect the interests of Nigerian pilgrims.

The commissioner of operations, inspectorate and licensing, Anofiu Elegushi, described the agreement as a reflection of strengthened collaboration and shared commitment to service excellence.

Mr Elegushi said that the 2025 hajj transportation exercise provided valuable lessons that would guide improvements in the 2026 operations. He said that the agreement represented a binding commitment to safety, transparency, and effective service delivery.

Mr Elegushi reiterated that punctuality, operational efficiency, adequate aircraft deployment, and effective management of operational challenges were critical to the exercise’s success.

(NAN)