NAHCON Orders Early Issuance of 2026 Hajj Flight Tickets to Curb Travel Disruptions

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has instructed all approved air carriers for the 2026 Hajj to begin issuing flight tickets to intending pilgrims well ahead of their departure dates.

The directive, announced on Thursday during a meeting with State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and participating airlines at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, is part of new measures aimed at eliminating flight mix-ups and ensuring seamless travel arrangements.

According to NAHCON, the early issuance of tickets will allow pilgrims to know their exact departure date, time, and airport, thereby reducing errors in pre-arrival data transmitted to Saudi authorities—a recurring issue that affects the distribution of Nusuk cards and other critical logistics.

Beginning from the 2026 Hajj exercise, missing a scheduled flight will attract what the Commission described as “grave consequences.” This is because each flight ticket will be digitally tied to a pilgrim’s Nusuk Card, which will be pre-assigned to the buses that will convey them from Saudi airports to their hotels. Once visas are issued, pilgrims will no longer be allowed to switch groups, and each group of 45 will travel, lodge, perform rites, and return to Nigeria together under the guidance of an assigned group leader.

The Commission noted that it is required to upload pre-arrival data for all pilgrims on the Nusuk Masar platform at least 72 hours before departure.

These details include group composition, accommodation information, building allocations, and bed space numbers. Any pilgrim who fails to appear for the scheduled flight will be tagged a no-show and may be required to pay for the unused seat.

Saudi Arabia has also introduced a new boarding card system to further tighten travel documentation. Each boarding card will contain key data such as the airline, capacity, state of origin, passenger list, departure and arrival airports, as well as expected travel times.

NAHCON’s Special Assistant (General Matters) to the Chairman, Dr. Danbaba Haruna, disclosed that the Commission had concluded its camp bookings and related services in Saudi Arabia.

But he warned that any state that fails to match camp bookings with accommodation remittances risks forfeiting unutilized slots. He urged State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to expedite payment of Hajj fares to avoid financial losses and reduced allocations.

The Commission also emphasized strict compliance with Saudi Arabia’s new medical fitness requirements for pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has listed nine disqualifying health conditions, including major organ failures (heart, liver, kidney, lungs), cancer patients undergoing treatment, severe psychiatric or neurological conditions, dementia, high-risk pregnancies, and active infectious diseases.

Any pilgrim found to have any of these conditions will be denied entry and will bear the full cost of deportation. State boards have been directed to partner only with certified hospitals for medical screening.

In addition, NAHCON confirmed that airline allocations for the 2026 Hajj have been communicated to all states.

The approved carriers for next year’s pilgrimage are Air Peace, FlyNas, Max Air, and Umza Air. The Commission, however, noted that allocations remain subject to change based on ongoing technical and infrastructural assessments.

The Chairman of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, called for stronger cooperation among the Commission, airlines, and state boards, stressing that the success of the Hajj exercise depends on the collective efforts of all stakeholders.

The statement was issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON.