Musa Baba Adamu
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has intensified efforts to improve pilgrims’ education and spiritual preparedness ahead of the 2026 Hajj, with the inauguration of a national Ulama team to guide intending pilgrims.
Chairman of the Commission, Amb. Ismail Yusuf Abba, disclosed this during a strategic meeting and inauguration of the 2026 Hajj Ulama Team held on April 22 at the Hajj House in Abuja.
Abba said the Commission is prioritising comprehensive education and orientation for pilgrims, stressing that proper understanding of Hajj rites is essential for the validity of the exercise.
He tasked the clerics to conduct intensive sensitisation programmes in multiple languages, both before departure and during the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the Ulama are expected to provide continuous guidance and promptly address questions or challenges that may arise during the pilgrimage, particularly issues that could affect the validity of pilgrims’ Hajj.
The meeting drew about 120 prominent Islamic scholars from across the country, including Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, Bala Lau, Abdulmuhyi Nasir, who represented Sani Yahaya Jingir, Abdulrahman Olanrewaju Ahmed, Nasir Adam, Muhammad Kabir Haruna Gombe, Usman Usman Dahiru Bauchi, and Isa Akindele Solahuddeen, among others.
As part of their responsibilities, the Ulama team will organise special prayer sessions at key Hajj locations, particularly at Arafat, focusing on Nigeria’s leadership, national security, unity, peace and economic prosperity.
In his remarks, Bashir Umar urged clerics to mobilise their followers to pray for peaceful elections, noting that the 2026 Hajj falls within the build-up to Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The clerics also underscored the importance of mental and spiritual readiness for pilgrims, urging them to embrace unity, sincerity, patience and total devotion to Allah.
They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims have a spiritually fulfilling Hajj experience.
