The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has said preparation for the 2026 Hajj has begun with a tentative Hajj fare that would be announced in the next three months.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman gave the hint in Kano shortly after he returned to Nigeria following the successful completion of the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The NAHCON boss who was received by overwhelming supporters disclosed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has duly notified Nigeria and other participating countries of early compliance and signing of agreements.

He expressed deep gratitude to Almighty God for a smooth and successful Hajj operation that witnessed the safe return of Nigerian pilgrims back home.

“In the name of Allah, we thank the Almighty who made it easy for us, and for our pilgrims, to lead them, support them, and return home with joy and fulfilment,” he said.

Professor Usman noted that feedback from pilgrims and high-ranking officials, including members of the National Assembly’s Committees on Foreign Affairs and Hajj Affairs, attested to the success of the 2025 Hajj. “What I would say, you’ve already heard from the pilgrims, from our senators and members of the House of Representatives. They’ve said it all,” he added.

He also commended the Nigerian media for their consistent support and for helping NAHCON communicate its message to the public effectively. “We thank you for your role in taking our message to Nigerians. Your partnership has been valuable, and we hope this cooperation continues,” he stated.

The NAHCON boss, however, emphasized that the success of the 2025 Hajj operation was not a personal achievement or that of the commission alone, but the result of divine blessing and collective effort.

“This success belongs to Allah. He is the one who blessed this exercise and made it possible for our leaders and pilgrims to return home satisfied. We only executed what was divinely destined,” Pakistan said.

He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, singling out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their unwavering support.

“We thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his full backing. The Vice President, under whose office we work directly, followed our progress step by step. Their guidance and support gave us the strength to work as one team, speak with one voice, and achieve the results we are celebrating today,” he said.

Responding to a question about NAHCON’s readiness for the 2026 Hajj, the NAHCON boss said the commission had learned valuable lessons from the 2025 operations and was already building on that experience to ensure an even more seamless exercise next year

“We’ve learned a lot from this year’s Hajj. Insha Allah, we intend to deliver a better and more efficient operation in 2026,” he assured.

He urged intending pilgrims to begin early registration as Saudi Arabian authorities have announced plans to conclude all preparations for next year’s Hajj within the next two to three months.

“We have received clear instructions from the Saudi authorities that they will not wait for any country to finalize their arrangements late. They want all logistics concluded early. We are now seeking approval to announce the Hajj fare for 2026 soon, so we appeal to all Nigerians intending to perform the pilgrimage to register early,” Professor Usman said.