AHUON Pushes Sweeping Reforms As Hajj 2027 Registration Begins, Seeks Crackdown On Illegal Operators

The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has called for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah industry, urging the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to tighten regulation, ban advertisements by unlicensed operators and deepen collaboration with licensed tour operators ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage.

The demands were made yesterday at the opening of AHUON’s two-day 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Hajj House in Abuja, themed “Reforming the Tour Business for Effective Hajj/Umrah Administration in Nigeria.”

Speaking at the event, AHUON President, Imam Abdul-Lateef Ekundayo Yusuf, described the meeting as coming at a critical time, with the 2026 Hajj concluded and NAHCON already commencing registration for the 2027 pilgrimage.

He said the gathering symbolised a renewed partnership between regulators and operators, stressing that both parties must work together to strengthen Nigeria’s Hajj administration.

“Our hall is more than a venue; it is a statement that regulator and operator must work as one family,” he declared.

Reviewing the association’s performance during the last operational year, Yusuf highlighted three major achievements: recovering members’ trapped funds, securing reliable airlift arrangements and protecting the interests of licensed operators.

According to him, AHUON sustained a 17-year campaign for the refund of members’ funds trapped under Saudi Arabia’s IBAN policy between 2007 and 2024, leading to the repatriation of significant sums before the 2026 Hajj airlift.

He attributed the breakthrough to sustained engagement with NAHCON, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi authorities.

On transportation, Yusuf said the association’s direct partnerships with Flyadeal, Saudi Airlines and UMZA Air provided members with competitive fares, dedicated flight slots and priority handling, reducing delays and last-minute disruptions experienced in previous years.

He also reaffirmed AHUON’s commitment to defending licensed operators while promoting compliance with regulatory standards, noting that the association had evolved from being merely an advocacy group into a strategic partner of NAHCON.

Despite the gains recorded during Hajj 2026, the AHUON President warned that major operational challenges remained.

He identified persistent technical problems with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform and other electronic systems as a major obstacle for Nigerian operators, calling for the establishment of a dedicated technical support channel before the peak period of the 2027 exercise.

Yusuf also expressed concern over the activities of unlicensed operators, accusing them of deceiving intending pilgrims through misleading advertisements before disappearing with their money.

He urged NAHCON to collaborate with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to immediately prohibit Hajj and Umrah advertisements by individuals and companies that have not been licensed by the commission.

“No advert slot should be sold to an operator that has not been cleared by NAHCON,” he said, arguing that such a policy would protect millions of Nigerians from fraud.

The AHUON President further outlined what he described as a three-point reform agenda centred on professionalism, accountability and innovation.

He called on members to standardise service delivery, embrace transparent pricing and financial management, and adopt technology-driven solutions, including digital registration, pilgrim tracking and post-Hajj feedback systems.

“Hajj 2026 is our report card; Hajj 2027 is our examination,” Yusuf told members, urging them to adopt a minimum service standard that guarantees dignity for every Nigerian pilgrim regardless of the amount paid.

Also speaking, Chairman of AHUON’s Board of Trustees, Abdulfatai Adeniyi Abdulmajeed, commended NAHCON for restoring stability to the Hajj industry after nearly two years of controversies and negative publicity.

He praised the commission’s leadership for fulfilling its promise on the refund of operators’ funds and appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue appointing experienced professionals to oversee Nigeria’s Hajj administration.

According to him, the Hajj and Umrah industry requires specialised knowledge because it combines religious obligations, tourism, hospitality and Nigeria’s international representation in the Holy Land.

Abdulmajeed also expressed concern over divisions within the industry, warning that the emergence of multiple associations had weakened the collective voice of operators.

He called for renewed efforts to reunite practitioners under AHUON’s constitutional mandate as the umbrella body for Hajj and Umrah operators in Nigeria.

Representing NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, the Registrar of the Hajj Institute, Ibrahim Abubakar Jalingo, assured participants that the commission remained committed to transparency, stakeholder engagement and comprehensive reforms.

He said the commission had restored calm to the industry by focusing on regulation rather than controversy and promised that no issue raised by operators would be ignored.

Jalingo disclosed that NAHCON would soon commence extensive reforms involving private operators and state pilgrims’ welfare boards, with measures aimed at making all stakeholders more accountable and responsive to national expectations.

He assured participants that the commission had “nothing to hide” and pledged that fairness and partnership would guide future engagements.

Delivering the keynote presentation, Ustaz Abubakar Siddeeq Muhammed proposed a three-pillar reform framework focused on stronger regulation, improved corporate governance and standardised entry requirements for operators.

He recommended that NAHCON formally recognise AHUON as the industry’s self-regulatory body for private operators, empowering it to verify members’ credibility and compliance before licences are issued or renewed.

The Islamic scholar also argued that NAHCON should concentrate strictly on its regulatory responsibilities rather than participating in commercial operations, insisting that the commission “cannot be both referee and player.”

He further advocated allowing private operators to independently select their own service providers, saying such a move would improve competition, accountability and service quality for Nigerian pilgrims.

The AGM continues on Thursday with further deliberations expected on policy reforms and preparations for the 2027 Hajj operations.