By Saminu Ibrahim
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) remains critical to ensuring successful Hajj operations as the global pilgrimage system undergoes a major shift.
Shettima made the remarks on Friday in Abuja while receiving the comprehensive 2026 Hajj operations report from the NAHCON board, led by its Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf.
The Vice President commended the commission’s current management for improving the coordination of Hajj operations, which he said contributed significantly to the successes recorded during the 2026 exercise.
He also attributed the outcome of the pilgrimage to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his timely intervention at a critical stage of the exercise.
“I must thank Mr President for decisively coming to the rescue of NAHCON. We want to thank him for the support that culminated in such a highly successful and seamless operation,” Shettima said.
He particularly praised the NAHCON chairman for demonstrating professionalism, capacity and an ability to work effectively with members of the board.
“I am very proud of the NAHCON chairman. He has shown capacity and exhibited a very high sense of professionalism and the willingness to carry on board members,” he added.
Shettima also spoke on the emerging shift in Hajj operations from a government-to-government model to a business-to-business arrangement, stressing that government would continue to play an important role in ensuring smooth and successful pilgrimage operations.
He said NAHCON would remain vital in coordinating stakeholders and championing efforts aimed at delivering successful Hajj exercises.
Earlier, Yusuf expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for what he described as their unwavering executive support for the commission.
He said government interventions in areas including foreign exchange access, basic travelling allowance and aviation fuel costs helped to reduce the financial burden on Nigerian pilgrims amid challenging global economic and geopolitical conditions.
According to him, the interventions helped ensure that the religious obligation remained accessible to pilgrims despite the prevailing economic difficulties.
Yusuf further said the Vice President’s leadership and guidance enabled NAHCON to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and deliver what he described as a highly successful and seamless operation.
He noted that the commission’s efforts covered early preparations, timely airlift and logistical management within the Makkah Accommodation Coordination Area (MACA), ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims were treated with dignity throughout the exercise.
Also present at the event were NAHCON Commissioner of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, Alhaji AbdulRazak Aliu; Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Anofi Elegushi; and members representing the six geopolitical zones on the commission’s board, among others.
