NAHCON Debunks Claims of Contract Rollover for 2026 Hajj Operations
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NAHCON Debunks Claims of Contract Rollover for 2026 Hajj Operations
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed reports suggesting that it sought or obtained approval to roll over contracts of 2025 Hajj service providers for the 2026 Hajj exercise, describing such claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission said it did not at any time request a rollover of contracts from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
Clarifying the issue, NAHCON said its decision not to open a fresh bidding process for certain 2026 Hajj services was informed by the emergency nature of Hajj operations, existing BPP advertisement rules and the extremely tight timelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all participating countries.
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“For the avoidance of doubt, NAHCON did not at any time request for a rollover of contracts from the BPP. The notion being circulated is false and misleading,” Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, said in the statement.
He explained that the Saudi Hajj calendar is fixed and non-negotiable, noting that Nigeria, like other Hajj-participating countries, must comply strictly with timelines set by the Saudi authorities.
According to him, the Commission’s approach is consistent with Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which permits emergency procurement where time constraints make standard tender procedures impracticable.
Muazu further clarified that the re-engagement of service providers does not amount to an automatic renewal or preservation of existing contract terms.
“Following the 2025 Hajj, the Commission carried out performance reviews, service evaluations and satisfaction assessments across all service areas. Based on these findings, NAHCON is under no obligation to retain identical contractual terms, scope or volume arrangements previously applied,” he said.
He added that any engagement of service providers for the 2026 Hajj would be guided by past performance, operational capacity, compliance history and the ability to meet Saudi regulatory requirements within the available timeframe.
Reiterating NAHCON’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Muazu said the Commission would not tolerate attempts to exploit the emergency nature of the 2026 Hajj operations to undermine its statutory mandate or mislead the public.
“NAHCON remains guided by transparency, accountability, value for money and quality service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims. We urge stakeholders to engage constructively and refrain from spreading misinformation,” he said.
The Commission encouraged service providers or interested parties with genuine concerns to submit formal complaints or requests for clarification through established dispute resolution mechanisms.
It reiterated that its doors remain open to all partners committed to the successful delivery of Hajj operations, stressing that constructive engagement is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s Hajj administration and safeguarding pilgrims’ welfare.
