I extend my thanks to the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) for its gracious invitation and for deeming me worthy to serve as guest speaker on this occasion, among so many qualified voices within the Hajj and Umrah industry. The IHR’s selection speaks to a quiet discernment—the choice of someone who moves not in academic abstraction but in the lived current of the pilgrim’s journey.
The Realms of Practice
The Hajj operation is not an academic exercise where scholars propose flawless scripts for the services rendered to pilgrims or the choreography of movement from Arafah to Muzdalifah. It belongs to the realm of profession, where those who interact with pilgrims through the pilgrimage itself must bear witness to the daily challenges at every juncture. I say this not to diminish the esteem due to academic minds who have graced your ceremonies in the past; I hold them in high regard. They are gold in their respective domains, and there is much we can learn from their precision and curiosity. I am still a student, and I aspire to be an academic one day. Yet, the heart of Hajj operations lies with those who practise in the field, who know the terrain of issues and the surest routes to resolution.
Acknowledging Monitor and Stakeholders
Thank you, IHR, for standing as a potent monitor in the class of Hajj operations in Nigeria. Thank you for watching over the operators, regulators and managers within the Hajj industry. Your social media handles are the repositories of Hajj-related activity, not only in Nigeria but in the wider world of Hajj. You are reliable partners and critical stakeholders in Hajj operations. Your reportage and assessment of the success or otherwise of Hajj operations carry a weight that only those embedded in the process can bear. You are part and parcel of the Hajj journey, tracking every movement, every aspect, from Nigeria to the Holy Territories, until each pilgrim’s departure from Jeddah. To carry you along—alongside Hajj operators and administrators—is a necessity for guidance and genuine feedback on the ways to refine the services received by Nigerian pilgrims.
Personal Affiliation and Core Belief
I am a tour operator and a bona fide member of the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN). My submission today, however, reflects best operational practices in Hajj generally, while bearing in mind that only one person remains the pilgrim—the patient, the central figure whom the operators serve. There is no difference between pilgrims who travel through the state pilgrim boards or those who go through private Hajj operators. I did not mention the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) because it has no pilgrims; not a single one. NAHCON’s role is supervisory, guiding, and coordinating the operators who serve the pilgrims. And the pilgrims are one and the same entity, regardless of the arrangement they subscribe to—state pilgrim boards, agencies, commissions, or private tour operators.
The Pilgrim at the Centre of All Decisions
In this framing, the pilgrim stands at the heart of every operational decision. All procedures, whether orchestrated by state bodies or private operators, must prioritise the needs, safety, and dignity of the pilgrim. Operational excellence is universal, applicable across the board, regardless of the channel through which the pilgrimage is arranged. The bond between pilgrim and operator transcends organisational form: the pilgrim is the sole client, the primary stakeholder, and the ultimate beneficiary of every service delivered. NAHCON’s remit is supervisory and coordinating; its mandate is to guide and align operators as they prepare and accompany pilgrims, rather than to curate a separate pilgrim experience. The pilgrims’ welfare remains the shared responsibility of all stakeholders.
Addressing the Perceived Divide Between Sectors
That is the mistake some people are making—attempting to demarcate between state pilgrimage boards and private tour operators. We serve one person, and that is the Nigerian pilgrim. In Hajj 2024, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCON, provided a pilgrimage subsidy to Nigerian pilgrims, including both Christians and Muslims. Unfortunately, Muslim pilgrims under tour operators were axed out; they did not enjoy that Presidential largess. Indeed, that was not the intent of Mr President. The pilgrimage subsidy was for the benefit of all Nigerian pilgrims. Mr President has given a 50 per cent subsidy to the Christians for the 2026 pilgrimage to Jerusalem. We are certain that Mr President will do the same to the Muslims, as is his custom. When the Mr President does that, as he is sure to do, the 50 per cent subsidy on the cost of Hajj 2026 should cover Muslim pilgrims in general and not those under state pilgrim boards’ arrangement!
The Pilgrim as the True Measure of Success
The Hajj operation is all about the pilgrim. In this frame, the measure of success is simple and exact: the pilgrim is served well, in accordance with the type of service they chose and paid for. A journey begins in Nigeria and travels outward toward the holy territories, then curves back to the embrace of home and family. At every step, the pilgrim’s experience should be unmarred by friction, free from hustles, and safeguarded from the noise that might distract the sacred work they have undertaken.
Protection, Clarity, and Dignity in the Journey
The pilgrim must stand protected from the moment they set out from home to their final return. Immune to the pressures and distortions that can creep into travel, lodging, transport, guidance, and care. The path should unfold with clarity, consistency, and dignity, so that the rites themselves remain the focus, not the petty hindrances of logistics or procedure.
NAHCON’s Regulatory Obligation
In this framework, the regulatory authority—the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)—bears a clear obligation. It must ensure that every institution tasked with service—state pilgrim welfare boards and private tour operators alike—fulfils their duties to the pilgrims. Oversight must be evenhanded, vigilant, and practical, preserving the integrity of the journey from start to finish.
A Call for Digital Transformation
To meet the evolving challenges posed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in enhancing Hajj management, NAHCON must nurture a digital transformation that provides Nigerian pilgrims with a smoother, more transparent, and easier-to-access Hajj experience. The Commission should modernise its operations with a precise aim: higher pilgrim satisfaction and greater efficiency, not merely faster processes but gentler ones, aligned with the dignity of the journey.
Payment Modernisation and Centralised Platform
Payment for Hajj must reflect the realities of today and ease hardship. We should abandon the antiquated practice of payment by bank draft and embrace more convenient, secure methods. A centralised online booking and payment platform, robust and user-friendly, would allow Nigerian pilgrims to register, pay, and access essential Hajj information from the comfort and safety of their homes. The system ought to either partner with, or host in-house, a payment solution that consolidates all Hajj-related fees, enabling seamless transactions across the board. Such an approach would streamline bookings, minimise on-site queues, and provide precise, auditable tracking of payment statuses.
A Human-Centric Digital Future
In implementing this vision, the focus remains steadfast on the pilgrim: the human at the heart of the journey. Digital tools should serve as quiet custodians—enhancing transparency, reducing friction, and safeguarding privacy—without overshadowing the personal care and guidance that pilgrims deserve. The aim is not merely to digitise; it is to humanise the process: clear information, secure payments, accessible updates, and respectful communication at every touchpoint.
The transformation should be inclusive: accessible to all pilgrims, including those with limited digital literacy, through clear guidance, multilingual support, and offline contingencies.
Security and trust are paramount: data protection, rigorous authentication, and resilient platforms that withstand disruptions.
