Vice-President Kashim Shettima will join the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) leadership, state pilgrims’ boards, and industry experts at the 2nd National Hajj Stakeholders Summit in Abuja on April 30, 2025, for a two-day event aimed at refining strategies for the 2025 Hajj operations. The summit will feature four intensive sessions with seven expert panelists each, focusing on critical issues such as logistics, service delivery, and stakeholder collaboration.
Key Objectives and Participants
The summit aims to address persistent challenges in Hajj operations, including transportation, accommodation, and healthcare for Nigerian pilgrims. Participants include:
Government officials: Ministers, lawmakers (Senate and House committees on Hajj), and aviation experts.
State-level actors: Heads of state pilgrims’ welfare boards/commissions and service providers.
Private sector: Tour operators, Lotus Bank (a key sponsor), and Saudi Arabian delegates, including diplomats and Hajj ministry representatives.
Building on Past Success
The event follows the inaugural summit in May 2024, which emphasized “Partnership, Collaboration, and Teamwork” as pillars for improving Hajj services. Lessons from 2024, such as enhancing early preparation timelines and digital innovations in registration, are expected to shape discussions.
Expected Outcomes
Stakeholders will finalize frameworks for:
Streamlined logistics: Coordination with airlines (e.g., Flynas, Max Air) and Saudi authorities on flight schedules and visa processing.
Digital transformation: Expanding NAHCON’s e-tracker systems for real-time pilgrim monitoring.
Capacity building: Training programs for staff and volunteers, building on NAHCON’s recent workshops.
The summit underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring a seamless Hajj experience for its pilgrims amid rising global standards and operational complexities.
