Only Credible Operators Will Handle Pilgrims – NAHCON Declares As Verification Begins

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a nationwide verification exercise for Private Tour Operators as part of preparations for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah operations.

According to Ireporter Online, the exercise follows the inauguration of the Committee on Licensing and Verification of Private Tour Operators by NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, last week at the Hajj House in Abuja.

The committee has been tasked with assessing and verifying all applications from licensed and prospective tour operator companies seeking accreditation to participate in the upcoming pilgrimage activities.

The verification, which began in Kano State, is being carried out by officials from NAHCON’s Tour Operators Unit under the Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing Department. The team is visiting operators’ offices to evaluate their facilities, documentation procedures, staff strength, and overall compliance with the commission’s operational guidelines.

In a statement signed by Shafii Mohammed, the committee emphasized that the exercise aims to ensure only credible, financially stable, and operationally prepared companies are certified to manage pilgrim services for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah.

“This process is critical to promoting transparency, accountability, and quality service delivery. It ensures that only operators who meet NAHCON’s standards and Saudi Arabian regulatory requirements are accredited,” the statement read.

The verification exercise is expected to continue across other geopolitical zones in the coming days, covering all licensed and intending tour operators nationwide.