NAHCON Beats Saudi Deadline and Secures All 2026 Hajj Hotels Early

Nigerian pilgrims can breathe a collective sigh of relief as the “accommodation anxiety” that usually haunts the Hajj season has been put to rest months in advance. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced this Monday that it has officially locked down all necessary lodging in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the 2026 pilgrimage.

In what many are calling a rare show of administrative speed, NAHCON Chairman Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman revealed that the commission didn’t just meet the Saudi deadline they smashed it. By getting the hotel contracts signed and approved by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj ahead of schedule, Nigeria has secured prime locations for its citizens, avoiding the “scraps” often left for late-coming nations.

This “early bird” success was sparked by a firm nudge from the top. Vice President Kashim Shettima reportedly issued a strict “Renewed Hope” directive, ordering the commission to finalize all critical arrangements early to safeguard Nigeria’s reputation and the comfort of the pilgrims.

“We are now among the first group of countries to complete this requirement,” Professor Usman stated through his media aide, Ahmad Muazu. He credited a high-level delegation sent to Saudi Arabia and the seamless use of the Nusuk Masar digital portal for the breakthrough.

For the thousands of Nigerians preparing for the spiritual journey, this means the risk of being stranded or housed in substandard, far-flung quarters has been significantly reduced. With the “bed space” hurdle cleared, NAHCON is now shifting its focus to the “airlift” phase, ensuring that flight schedules and visas are ready long before the first pilgrim hits the tarmac.