By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, held a virtual engagement with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah in Charge of International Collaboration, Dr. Al Hassan Manakhra, to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing strict health regulations ahead of the 2026 Hajj. The meeting was held in Abuja and virtually linked with Riyadh on March 4, 2026 as part of sustained preparatory coordination between the two countries.
During the high‑level discussion, both sides reviewed critical facets of the upcoming pilgrimage, including visa processing timelines, flight scheduling, pilgrims’ grouping and accommodation synchronisation, and, most importantly, medical certification compliance. Abba assured Saudi officials that NAHCON would strictly enforce health screening protocols and medical clearance requirements, aligning with tightened Saudi standards that include random checks at points of entry and sanctions for falsification.
The meeting underscored the urgency of ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims meet all health criteria before departure and that no pilgrim will travel without authentic, verified fitness certification. Both parties agreed to continue regular coordination meetings until all operational preparations are concluded, signalling a strengthened bilateral cooperation to safeguard pilgrims’ health and uphold the integrity of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
Leave a Reply