NAHCON Trains Hajj, Umrah Operators In Lagos Ahead Of 2027 Pilgrimage
By Sherif Salau
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has begun a focused training exercise for licensed Hajj and Umrah operators in Lagos, part of a broader effort to ready the industry for significant changes ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage season.
The two-day Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management opened on Monday in both Lagos and Kano. Organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria in partnership with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria and the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria, the sessions target regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and the welfare of pilgrims.
Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, NAHCON’s chairman and chief executive, opened the programme by outlining the pressures reshaping global Hajj management. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms and the emerging business-to-business model are expected to place greater responsibility on private-sector operators. Nigeria has secured a three-year phased transition with Saudi authorities, starting with 30 per cent private-sector participation in 2027. The arrangement, Yusuf said, gives the country time to strengthen its regulatory framework and prepare licensed operators for expanded roles.
“The training is designed to equip operators with the professional knowledge and skills required to adapt to the evolving international system,” he told participants. He urged them to uphold high standards and place the welfare of pilgrims above commercial considerations.
Sessions cover professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons drawn from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrim welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers. Organisers expect the programme to improve readiness for the coming season and support the development of a more professional, competitive and pilgrim-centred industry.
The Lagos leg of the training is particularly significant given the city’s role as a major departure point and commercial hub for pilgrimage services. Operators based in the southwest handle large numbers of intending pilgrims each year and will need to navigate the new private-sector requirements carefully.
NAHCON has framed the initiative as part of a longer-term push to professionalise the sector. Participants who complete the course will receive a professional certificate, signalling a formal commitment to higher standards of service. An executive programme for senior leaders of tour companies is scheduled to follow, focusing on strategic leadership and partnerships under the evolving Saudi model.
As Nigeria prepares for an increased Hajj quota in 2027, the emphasis on training reflects a recognition that the quality of service on the ground will determine how successfully the country adapts to the new arrangements. For operators in Lagos and beyond, the message is clear: competence, compliance and care for pilgrims will shape the industry’s future.
