By Olugbenga Salami
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has organised a one-day interactive workshop for hospitality centres to improve pilgrims’ guidance, safety awareness and service delivery for the 2026 Hajj.
The workshop, held in Makkah, brought together Hajj officials, hospitality service providers and key stakeholders involved in pilgrims welfare and operations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A statement by Shafii Sani Mohammed of the Information and Publications Unit of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, said the Nigerian delegation was led by the Deputy Makkah Coordinator of the commission, Mallam Ibrahim Idris and joined by representatives from various State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Commissions and Agencies.
Idris delivered the goodwill message of NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, who is currently overseeing the airlift of pilgrims in Nigeria and other aspects of the 2026 Hajj operations ahead of his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Through the Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Ambassador Yusuf assured Saudi authorities of the full cooperation of the Nigerian contingent.
He affirmed that Nigerian pilgrims and officials would comply with all policies, regulations and operational guidelines of the Kingdom during the exercise.
The statement said discussions focused on improving coordination and operational efficiency during the Mashaer phase, especially the movement of pilgrims between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
Facilitators stressed the need for organised group movement under designated officials to reduce cases of missing pilgrims and ensure seamless transit.
The workshop also featured practical demonstrations on the use of Nusuk cards and digital applications for navigation, identification and access to essential services in the Holy Land. Participants were told the platforms would help pilgrims locate camps, transportation routes and emergency support services.
Stakeholders emphasised sustained awareness campaigns and orientation programmes for pilgrims before and during Hajj, noting that adequate information is critical to the success of the operation.
Other topics included emergency response procedures, medical support arrangements, and better collaboration among hospitality centres, service providers and Hajj officials.
Participants commended the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, describing the workshop as timely and instrumental to strengthening cooperation and improving pilgrims’ welfare for the 2026 Hajj season.
