By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi <\/p>\n
The 2026 Hajj Media Monitoring Team of the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for completing the outbound airlift of Nigerian intending pilgrims within the scheduled timeline.<\/p>\n
In its Second Assessment Report released on Sunday in Makkah, the team described the feat as an operational milestone that largely aligned with projections.<\/p>\n
The report, signed by the chairman of the committee, Malam Nasiru Lawal, noted that despite a few observations and logistical challenges, the exercise was largely successful.<\/p>\n
IHR welcomed the establishment of additional embarkation points in Zamfara and Ogun States as a positive development for intending pilgrims, saying pilgrims from the two states no longer need to undertake stressful interstate journeys before departure to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the initiative has significantly reduced travel stress and improved safety for pilgrims, but however, noted that the new centres have placed additional logistical burdens on Hajj air carriers and overstretched NAHCON\u2019s human resource capacity.<\/p>\n
It said more zonal officials are now required at the various airports, while airlines need additional ground operational personnel, warning that the situation may increase operational costs in subsequent Hajj exercises if not properly managed.<\/p>\n
Presenting its offshore assessment, IHR gave a relatively positive review of the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah where it particularly praised the standard of accommodation and the proximity of hotels to Masjid Al-Nabawi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe commend NAHCON for retaining the Markaziya locations for Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah, which continues to enhance pilgrims\u2019 comfort and ease of access to the Prophet\u2019s Mosque,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n
The team, however, advised NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to improve the turnaround time for allocating accommodation to arriving pilgrims in Madinah.<\/p>\n
This, it said, will reduce waiting periods after arrival.<\/p>\n
On feeding, IHR observed that arrangements have improved considerably compared to previous years, but called for greater variety and better menu selection.<\/p>\n
The committee also described the launch of the interactive Hajj Companion App by NAHCON as a major step toward digitalising Hajj operations, noting that the app can improve pilgrims\u2019 movement coordination and orientation services.<\/p>\n
IHR added that the application has the potential to evolve into Nigeria\u2019s own version of the Nusuk platform, covering all aspects of Hajj administration and pilgrims\u2019 services.<\/p>\n
To achieve that, the team recommended that NAHCON partner with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Private Tour Operators in developing and integrating the app.<\/p>\n
The collaboration, it said, would make the platform more comprehensive and inclusive of all stakeholders\u2019 activities.<\/p>\n
As the Masha\u2019ir rites begin, IHR urged all operational stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure Nigerian pilgrims perform Hajj under comfortable and conducive conditions.<\/p>\n
The committee also cautioned stakeholders against politicising Hajj services and urged focus on efficient service delivery to the guests of Allah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi The 2026 Hajj Media Monitoring Team of the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for completing the outbound airlift of Nigerian intending pilgrims within the scheduled timeline. In its Second Assessment Report released on Sunday in Makkah, the team described the feat as an operational […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-religion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13996,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13995\/revisions\/13996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}