The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has said the proposed Business-to-Business (B2B), model for future Hajj operations recommended by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will be implemented in phases.
The Chairman of the Commission, Amb. Abdullahi Abba Yussuf, made the disclosure while fielding questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He noted that a sudden migration of 98% of the country’s traditional public Hajj quota to a private tour operator framework would not be feasible, given the long-established public administration system managed by NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards.
The NAHCON boss said although the Commission has received an official policy communication from the Saudi authorities on the decision, it is proposing a phased implementation of the new arrangement due to the significant economic and operational risks involved.
He explained that a structural shift under the proposed policy would undermine existing Government-to-Government understandings, disrupt established operational arrangements, weaken the statutory role of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, and adversely affect the affordability, accessibility, and orderly management of Hajj for ordinary Nigerian pilgrims.
Amb. Yussuf maintained that while Nigeria fully supports Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation agenda and the expansion of private sector participation in Hajj operations, the Commission believes such reforms should be implemented through mutual consultation and a carefully managed transition.
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