Nigeria: Shettima restates FG's commitment to hitch-free hajj operation.

Nigeria - September 19, 2026 Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu's administration to ensuring a hitch-free hajj operation in Nigeria. Shettima gave the assurance when he received the report of the 2026 Hajj operation from the fourth board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members of the fourth board of NAHCON were led to the Presidential Villa, Abuja by its Chairman, Amb. Ismail Yusuf. The vice president noted that NAHCON would continue to play a vital role in conducting a successful hajj, as global hajj operation undergo a significant paradigm shift. Shettima stated that NAHCON, under its current management, significantly improved hajj operations, resulting in the major successes recorded in 2026. The vice president attributed the success of the 2026 exercise to President Bola 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 board, particularly the chairman, for “the confidence and capacity displayed in the last exercise. " The vice president, therefore, urged the NAHCON boss and members of 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, Shettima said the role of government remained critical. Earlier, NAHCON Chairman, Yusuf, thanked President Tinubu and the vice president for their unwavering executive backing. He commended their "critical, compassionate policy interventions in stabilising foreign exchange access, securing the basic travelling allowance, and mitigating sudden spikes in aviation fuel. This, according to him, significantly relieved the financial burden on a multitude of pilgrims." Yusuf noted that the timely support ensured that the sacred obligation remained accessible despite a highly challenging global economic and geopolitical climate. He further noted that through the direct leadership and guidance of the Vice President, NAHCON was able to “harmonise collaboration across stakeholders to deliver a successful hajj operation. The NAHCON boss added that “from early arrangements and timely airlift to logistical management within MACA, Nigerian pilgrims were treated with utmost dignity."