By Jabiru Hassan
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation advocating for effective Hajj policies, has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to commence early registration for the 2027 Hajj and establish a Hajj calendar harmonisation committee.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, IHR highlighted that recurring operational challenges in Nigeria’s Hajj preparations are largely due to late pilgrim registration and delays in implementing pre-Hajj timelines.“The fundamental operational challenges encountered yearly stem from late registration and behind-schedule pre-Hajj activities, affecting our ability to comply with the Hajj calendar set by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah,” the statement said.
IHR proposed that the harmonisation committee develop a comprehensive pre-Hajj timetable and ensure uniform compliance across all stakeholders, including State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and private Hajj operators. This alignment would help standardize pilgrim registration, medical screening, and orientation, preventing delays that have caused some intending pilgrims to miss the opportunity to perform Hajj.
The group also noted that early registration for 2027 would enable timely fund allocation to meet service providers’ contractual obligations and improve coordination, citing Indonesia’s three-year rolling Hajj plan as a successful model. They recommended that states form small committees to supervise registration alongside ongoing 2026 Hajj preparations, ensuring no disruption to current operations.
IHR further suggested using the 2026 Hajj fare as a benchmark for 2027 and called on financial institutions to promote Hajj savings schemes to help pilgrims plan ahead.
