Shettima Praises NAHCON, Credits Tinubu for 2026 Hajj Success
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the improved coordination and seamless conduct of the 2026 Hajj operations.
Shettima spoke on Friday in Abuja while receiving the comprehensive 2026 Hajj operations report from the NAHCON Board, led by its Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf.
The Vice President attributed the success of the exercise to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and decisive intervention at a critical stage of 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 said.
He also commended the NAHCON board, particularly its chairman, for the capacity and professionalism demonstrated during the exercise.
“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.
Shettima noted that global Hajj operations were undergoing a significant shift from a government-to-government model to a business-to-business model, stressing that government would continue to play a critical role in ensuring hitch-free Hajj operations.
He said NAHCON would remain vital in championing the interests of Nigerian pilgrims and ensuring successful future Hajj exercises.
Earlier, NAHCON Chairman Ismail Abba Yusuf thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their executive backing, particularly interventions that helped stabilise foreign exchange access, secure basic travelling allowances and mitigate sudden increases in aviation fuel costs.
Yusuf said the interventions helped reduce the financial burden on pilgrims and ensured that Hajj remained accessible despite challenging global economic and geopolitical conditions.
He also credited the Vice President’s leadership with strengthening collaboration among stakeholders, saying the commission was able to deliver what he described as a highly successful and seamless operation.
According to him, Nigerian pilgrims benefited from early preparations, timely airlift and effective logistical management, with the commission ensuring they were treated with dignity throughout the exercise.
The report presentation was attended by NAHCON Commissioner of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, AbdulRazak Aliu; Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi; and board members representing the six geopolitical zones, among others.
