Shettima hails NAHCON over 2026 Hajj operations

Vice-President Kashim Shettima receiving the 2026 Hajj Operations Report from the NAHCON Board Chairman, Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf at the Presidential Villa on Friday. Photo: State House

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for the improved coordination of the 2026 Hajj exercise, attributing the success of the pilgrimage to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and decisive intervention.

According to a statement issued on Friday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima spoke in Abuja while receiving the comprehensive 2026 Hajj operations report from the NAHCON board, led by its Chairman, Ismail Abba Yusuf.

The vice president said NAHCON had demonstrated renewed vigour under its current management, stressing that the commission would remain crucial as global Hajj operations undergo a significant shift from a government-to-government to a business-to-business model.

The statement quoted Shettima as attributing the success of the 2026 exercise to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and decisive intervention at a critical time during the operations.

“And I must thank Mr President for decisively coming to the rescue of NAHCON. We want to thank him for the support that culminated in such a highly successful and seamless operation.”

Shettima also applauded the leadership of the NAHCON board, particularly its chairman, for “the confidence and capacity displayed in the last exercise,” urging the board to “continue in the same spirit.”

“I am very proud of the NAHCON chairman. He has shown capacity and exhibited a very high sense of professionalism and the willingness to carry on board members,” he added.

On the paradigm shift in Hajj operations from a government-to-government to a business-to-business model, the Vice President said the role of government remained critical to ensuring a hitch-free operation.

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He noted that NAHCON would continue to play a vital role in championing the cause of a successful Hajj exercise.

Earlier, Yusuf thanked President Tinubu and Shettima for their unwavering executive backing, according to the statement.

The NAHCON chairman said their “critical, compassionate policy interventions, particularly in stabilizing foreign exchange access, securing the basic travelling allowance, and mitigating sudden spikes in aviation fuel significantly relieved the financial burden on a multitude of pilgrims.”

According to him, the timely support ensured that the sacred obligation remained accessible despite a highly challenging global economic and geopolitical climate.

Yusuf further noted that through the direct leadership and guidance of the Vice President, NAHCON was able to “harmonize collaboration across stakeholders to deliver what has been widely adjudged as a highly successful, seamless operation.”

He added that “from early arrangements and timely airlift to logistical management within MACA, Nigerian pilgrims were treated with utmost dignity.”

Also present at the report presentation were NAHCON’s Commissioner of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, AbdulRazak Aliu; Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi; and members representing the six geopolitical zones on the board of the commission, among others.