From Vision to Victory: How Nigeria Redefined Pilgrimage Excellence in 2025

By Ameen Amshi (Jagaban na Kashim),
Special Assistant to the President on Special Duty & Representative of the Presidency at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)

Every year, questions and misconceptions swirl around the Hajj pilgrimage, particularly in Nigeria. Chief among them is the erroneous belief that the Nigerian government sponsors the pilgrimage.
It’s time to set the record straight: the Nigerian government does not sponsor Hajj. Pilgrims pay their way in full. What the government does through its agencies like the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)is provide facilitation, regulation, and diplomatic leverage to ensure Nigerians perform Hajj with dignity and ease.

This year’s Hajj in 2025 has proven to be a turning point, thanks in large part to the interventions of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the tireless efforts of NAHCON, and the cooperation of airlines, state pilgrim boards, and service providers.

Inject Renewed Hope into the Hajj industry:
Presidential Vision in Action
It is important to state upfront that none of these achievements would have been possible without the full support and leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President not only backed the Hajj operations but also gave the Vice President a free hand to act decisively. His singular instruction to the Vice President was clear: “Introduce Renewed Hope to the Hajj industry.” That mandate became a mission and it was delivered.
The outcomes speak for themselves: enhanced logistics, improved services, accountability, and a much more dignified experience for our pilgrims.

Unblocking Financial Bottlenecks

One of the earliest challenges in this year’s Hajj season was access to foreign currency. With global economic volatility affecting remittances and card-based transactions abroad, Nigerian pilgrims faced a potential crisis. Vice President Shettima swiftly engaged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and secured the release of physical cash, ensuring that pilgrims could manage their expenses in Saudi Arabia without the inconvenience and unreliability of international cards.
More importantly, this intervention acknowledged a deeper social reality: many of our pilgrims are from Nigeria’s rural and hinterland communitiesfarmers, cattle rearers, and others who have never used an ATM machine, let alone navigated digital banking systems. The decision to provide cash was therefore not just logistical, but compassionate. It made Hajj accessible and manageable for thousands who might otherwise have struggled in a cashless foreign environment.

Diplomacy that Delivered

Beyond the monetary hurdles, there were moments where quiet diplomacy made all the difference. The Vice President stepped in personally to help settle sensitive issues between NAHCON and some key service providers ensuring things didn’t fall apart when it mattered most.
But he didn’t do it alone. His efforts were strongly backed by vital ministries. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked behind the scenes to smoothen cooperation with the Saudi authorities, while Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, ensured Nigerian airlines had the necessary institutional and technical support to participate fully.

Just as crucial was the tireless support from the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadeja. He was a steady handalways making sure that every instruction from the Vice President was acted upon with precision and care.
His commitment to due process and excellence gave us the confidence to keep moving.
Personally, I couldn’t afford to switch off not for a moment. My phone was constantly buzzing, with the Vice President calling or sending WhatsApp messages to ask for real-time updates. Whether it was the status of transportation in Makkah or the condition of the tents in Mina and Arafat , he wanted to know it all. His dedication wasn’t just from a distance it was felt, heard, and seen by everyone involved.

One image I’ll never forget was that of the NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan. On the day of arrival in Mina, he personally moved from room to room, checking on the pilgrims, helping them settle in. His humility and dedication were unmistakable.

At one point, I visited the office of the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, and found him still in the same clothes from two days earlier. He hadn’t left the site, fully immersed in ensuring every detail was running smoothly. That kind of hands-on commitment spoke volumes and inspired everyone around him.too immersed in the work to think of rest or change. That humility, that level of hands-on leadership, was inspiring.
It was that kind of energy top to bottom that defined this year’s Hajj. The Vice President’s relentless attention to detail kept us sharp. And that commitment trickled down through every layer of the operation. It’s no wonder things worked the way they did.

Hands-On Oversight and Seamless Execution

The level of oversight this year was unmatched. From pre-Hajj activities to post-arrival logistics, the operations ran with precision. There were no flight delays, and some airlines even departed ahead of schedule a rare but welcome surprise.
In Madina, pilgrims were processed through immigration and baggage claims in under an hour, and transported to hotels within 500 meters of the Prophet’s Mosque. They were served two hot meals daily, and after four spiritually nourishing days, they were moved to Makkah by a punctual and comfortable transport service, where they were handed over to their respective state pilgrim boards.

A Bold Innovation at the Masha’ir

The high point of this year’s improvements was the service delivery at the Masha’ir sites Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. On the advice of the Vice President, NAHCON signed agreements with three major service providers Ikram Daif, Mashariq Dahabiya, and Rawaf Mina to introduce healthy competition in service provision.
The result? Dramatic improvement.
In Mina, the companies delivered superior food, better bed space, and more convenient locations. VIP pilgrims and private tour operators were hosted at Abraj Kidani Tower, an 8-minute walk to Jamarat, receiving five-star-level treatment.
On the Day of Arafat, the companies again vied to outdo each other in comfort and service. Pilgrims were hosted in fully air-conditioned tents, with round-the-clock catering all under the meticulous supervision of NAHCON’s management team, led by Chairman and CEO Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, Prince Anofi Elegushi, Commissioner of Operations, alongside Prince Aliyu Abdulrasak, Commissioner PPMF, Prof. Abubakar Yagawal, Commissioner PRISILS, and Dr. Mustapha Aji, Secretary to the Commission.

Prof. Pakistan: The Chaperone-in-Chief

A moment that stood out profoundly for many pilgrims was the personal involvement of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan on the day of arrival to Mina. Despite his role as Chairman and CEO, Prof. Pakistan took it upon himself to go from tent to tent, assisting pilgrims in checking into their rooms, offering comfort, answering questions, and ensuring no one was left unattended. His humility was second to none, and his commitment was overboard. It was this kind of leadership by example that uplifted the spirit of the operations and won the hearts of pilgrims.

A Leadership Briefing with the Speaker of the House

A defining moment came during a strategy briefing held in Mina with the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Alongside Vice President’s aides Jibrin Abubakar and Sirajo Abdullahi, I had the privilege of briefing the Speaker on our progress. He was deeply impressed with the order, organisation, and devotion of the NAHCON team. He described the 2025 Hajj operations as a “national success story worth celebrating..

The Speaker expressed deep satisfaction with the order, efficiency, and dignity with which Nigerian pilgrims were treated. He commended the NAHCON management for exceeding expectations, noting that the Hajj 2025 operations reflect a new standard of service worthy of national pride.

Tireless Dedication from the Entire NAHCON Team
It’s no exaggeration to say that the commitment of the leadership team was beyond ordinary. I personally witnessed NAHCON executives working round-the-clock with little to no sleep. At one point, I visited the office of the Commissioner of Operations and found him still in the same clothes from two days earlier, having not returned to his hotel even once. When I encouraged him to rest, he replied, “We have slept all year; we can sacrifice five days for this Hajj.”
To further show their commitment, the NAHCON Executive Committee chose not to perform the Hajj this year so they could stay fully dedicated to managing the process. That selflessness paid off. I confidently rate this Hajj a solid 90 percent, not as a limit, but as a challenge to do even better next year.

Airlines That Made Nigeria Proud

Max Air, Air Peace, and Umza Air exceeded expectations, maintaining stellar performance from takeoff to touchdown. Their professionalism is a testament to Nigeria’s maturing aviation sector. FlyNas, a consistent international partner, once again extended their usual excellence to Nigeria’s pilgrims.

Final Thoughts: A Model for the Future

Hajj 2025 was not just successful it was transformational. The renewed hope introduced under President Tinubu’s leadership, implemented by Vice President Shettima, and executed by the relentless NAHCON team, has set a new benchmark. The blend of leadership, transparency, diligence, and innovation was evident in every aspect of this year’s pilgrimage.
As someone privileged to be part of all preparations and pre-Hajj activities, I witnessed firsthand the work, stress, and sacrifice behind the scenes. I say this with confidence: we delivered a dignified, efficient, and spiritually uplifting Hajj for Nigeria.
To everyone involved from the Presidency to the pilgrims thank you. Let us build on this success and make Hajj 2026 even better, In Shaa Allah.

The author is the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duty and the Representative of the Presidency at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), involved in all preparatory and operational stages of Hajj 2025.

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