NAHCON Names Committee to Monitor 2026 Hajj Flights
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NAHCON Names Committee to Monitor 2026 Hajj Flights
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has inaugurated an Aviation Monitoring Committee for the 2026 Hajj operations to strengthen oversight on airlift logistics and ensure transparency in aviation arrangements.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, inaugurated the committee at the Hajj House in Abuja on Monday, charging members to serve as diligent gatekeepers in all aviation-related matters.
Usman said the committee was set up as a functional body to guarantee efficiency, safety and comfort for Nigerian pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.
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“For the Nigerian Government under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, facilitating this spiritual journey for its citizens is not just a statutory duty but a sacred trust,” the NAHCON boss said.
“We are committed to ensuring that every Nigerian pilgrim performs their Ibadah in comfort and safety.”
He noted that although the Commission had made steady improvements in airlift logistics, aviation remained the most sensitive and visible component of Hajj operations.
“This committee is not decorative; it is our commitment to pilgrim welfare. You are the gatekeepers entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring aviation matters,” he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Operations and Licensing, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, thanked the Chairman for the confidence reposed in the team and assured of their commitment to the task.
“Our mission is simple and solemn — to guarantee safe, secure and dignified air transport for pilgrims. We will not compromise their safety,” Elegushi said.
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing and evaluating documents submitted by airlines and cargo carriers applying for the 2026 Hajj, inspecting the readiness of designated airports, and monitoring inbound and outbound flights to ensure compliance with agreements and industry standards.
Other responsibilities include checking in-flight service quality, enforcing NAHCON’s luggage policy, recommending sanctions for defaulting carriers or state pilgrims’ boards, and liaising with the Central Security Committee on abscondment cases.
Usman urged members to carry out their duties with integrity and professionalism, adding that millions of Nigerian Muslims were counting on them.
He expressed confidence in the committee’s expertise and described the assignment as a sacred duty essential to the success of the 2026 Hajj operations.
