File photo of pilgrims heading for hajj
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has directed all carriers for the 2026 hajj exercise to issue flight tickets to intending pilgrims ahead of time.
In a statement on Thursday, Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s deputy director of information and public relations, said the directive was aimed at reducing incidents of incorrect pre-arrival data that can affect Nusuk card distribution and other logistics.
Usara said the resolution was made during a meeting with state pilgrims’ welfare boards and 2026 hajj air carriers at the NAHCON headquarters in Abuja.
“The directive is aimed at ensuring that every pilgrim is fully aware of his or her exact departure schedule vis-a-vis date, time and place of departure,” the statement reads.
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“This is to drastically reduce incidents of incorrect pre- arrival data sent to Saudi Arabia which affects Nusuk card distribution and other logistics.
“Beginning with the 2026 Hajj, missing a flight will attract grave consequences. This is because each pilgrim’s ticket will be digitally linked to their Nusuk Card, which will be pre-positioned in their assigned buses in Saudi Arabia.
“These buses will convey them to their hotels. Hence, after visa issuance, a pilgrim cannot change groups again; pilgrims will thereafter maintain the group under which his or her visa was processed.”
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Usara added that each group of 45 pilgrims will travel together under a leader, stay in the same hotel in Makkah, Madinah and Masha’ir, and return to Nigeria together after the pilgrimage.
She said NAHCON is required to upload pre-arrival data on the Nusuk Masar platform 72 hours before the departure of any aircraft, including group numbers, names, accommodation details, building assignments, and bed-space numbers.
The NAHCON spokesperson warned that any pilgrim who fails to show up for their flight will be treated as a no-show and will bear the penalty, which may include payment for the unused seat, adding that the same treatment applies to any defaulting party.
“Similarly, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah this year introduced a boarding card to be issued to each pilgrim before departure,” she said.
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“The card will contain in addition to the above information, other vital details such as names of airline, its capacity, name of state, name and number of pilgrims on board, departure airport, the time and destination airport, arrival time and arrival airport.”
Usara said Saudi Arabia’s new medical fitness requirements must be strictly enforced, warning that any pilgrim with one of nine disqualifying medical conditions will not be allowed to travel and will bear the full cost of deportation if they do so.
She added that state pilgrims’ welfare boards have been directed to partner only with credible, certified hospitals to issue medical fitness certificates, covering conditions such as major organ failures, cancer under treatment, psychiatric or neurological disorders, high-risk pregnancies, severe cognitive impairments, and active infectious diseases.
According to her, the hajj carriers for the 2026 exercise are Air Peace, Fly Nas, Max Air and Umza Air.
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