The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a two-day professional training programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators in Kano and Lagos to improve service delivery, regulatory compliance and pilgrims’ welfare ahead of the 2027 Hajj.
The Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management, which began on Monday, October 26, will end on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The programme is organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) in collaboration with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) and the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTON).
Declaring the programme open, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the initiative was designed to prepare Nigerian operators for emerging changes in the global Hajj industry, particularly reforms under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the introduction of a business-to-business model.
He explained that the emerging model would gradually transfer greater responsibility for Hajj pilgrim management to private-sector operators, requiring improved professionalism, operational capacity and regulatory compliance.
Yusuf disclosed that the commission had secured a three-year phased transition arrangement with Saudi authorities, beginning with 30 per cent private-sector participation in the 2027 Hajj.
According to him, the arrangement would provide Nigeria with time to strengthen its regulatory framework and prepare operators for their expanding responsibilities in pilgrimage management.
He urged tour operators to maintain high professional standards and prioritise pilgrims’ welfare over commercial interests.
“The welfare of pilgrims must remain above commercial considerations,” he said.
The NAHCON chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to professional certification, digital transformation and effective regulatory oversight to improve the quality of Hajj and Umrah services in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Rector of HIN, Professor Muhammad Nasirudeen Maiturare, described professional training as essential to modern pilgrimage management, noting that operators needed expertise in corporate governance, risk management, operational coordination and international service standards.
Maiturare highlighted the institute’s academic programmes, including a Master of Business Administration in Hajj Operations Management, offered in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a National Diploma in Hospitality and Hajj Management, developed in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education.
The training programme features sessions on professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrims’ welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers.
The initiative is expected to improve operators’ preparedness for the 2027 Hajj and support NAHCON’s efforts to establish a more professional, competitive and pilgrim-centred Hajj and Umrah industry in Nigeria.
