Abuja – Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has called for a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s Hajj administration, urging stakeholders to embrace reforms that will deliver transparent, efficient and pilgrim-focused services.
Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Summit on Post-2026 Hajj Review and NAHCON Reform held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, Mahmoud said the time had come to reposition Nigeria’s Hajj industry as a model of service excellence.
She noted that the theme of the summit, “Repositioning Nigeria’s Hajj Industry as a Model of Service Excellence,” underscored the collective commitment to improving the welfare and overall experience of Nigerian pilgrims.
According to her, Hajj goes beyond being a religious obligation, as it requires careful planning, effective coordination and quality service delivery.
“Every pilgrim deserves an experience that reflects dignity, safety, comfort and professionalism. Achieving this requires unwavering commitment, transparency and accountability from all stakeholders,” she said.
The minister praised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for convening the summit to review the 2026 Hajj operations, stressing that a frank assessment of both achievements and shortcomings would help strengthen public confidence and drive lasting institutional reforms.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to improving public service delivery and called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulatory agencies, service providers, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and religious leaders to build a more effective and sustainable Hajj management system.
Mahmoud urged participants to come up with practical recommendations that would serve as a roadmap for reforms aimed at boosting efficiency, accountability, innovation and pilgrims’ satisfaction.
She also commended President Bola Tinubu for championing institutional reforms through the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying his administration’s emphasis on transparency and people-centred governance was strengthening critical national institutions, including those responsible for Hajj administration.
The minister equally applauded the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for creating an environment that supports reforms and excellence in public service.
Earlier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the summit was convened not only to review the 2026 Hajj exercise but also to chart a new course for Hajj administration in Nigeria.
He said Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 was transforming pilgrimage administration and urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to institutionalise the successes recorded during the 2026 Hajj while addressing identified shortcomings.
“There are things we achieved and there are things we must fix. Every shortcoming must be named without embellishment and matched with a remedy,” Yusuf said.
