By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced plans to introduce a phased transition towards greater private-sector participation in Hajj operations, with licensed tour operators expected to handle 30 per cent of participation under the arrangement in 2027.
The commission said the transition, agreed upon with Saudi authorities, would give Nigeria three years to strengthen its regulatory system and prepare operators for expanded responsibilities in the management and delivery of pilgrimage services.
NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, disclosed this on Monday while declaring open a two-day professional training programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators in Kano and Lagos.
According to the commission, the initiative is designed to prepare operators for changes in the global pilgrimage industry, particularly reforms under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the increasing adoption of the business-to-business (B2B) model in service delivery.
Yusuf stressed that operators must improve their professional standards as the industry undergoes significant changes, warning that the welfare of pilgrims must take precedence over commercial interests.
He said professionalism, accountability and efficient service delivery were essential to ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims receive quality services throughout their spiritual journey.
The training, titled Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management, was 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).
The programme is aimed at improving regulatory compliance, strengthening operational efficiency and enhancing pilgrims’ experiences ahead of the 2027 Hajj.
Speaking at the event, the Rector of HIN, Professor Muhammad Maiturare, said professional training had become increasingly important as pilgrimage management grows more complex and requires operators to meet international service standards.
He identified corporate governance, risk management, operational coordination and effective service delivery as key areas in which operators must build their capacity.
Maiturare also highlighted the institute’s academic programmes, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hajj Operations Management, run in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He said the institute had also developed a National Diploma in Hospitality and Hajj Management in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education.
Sessions at the capacity-building programme covered professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrim welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers.
The initiative forms part of NAHCON’s efforts to strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah sector while preparing licensed operators for the changing demands of international pilgrimage management.
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