By Sani Saleh Chinade, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni says non of the state’s pilgrims defected in Saudi Arabia and refused to return home after completing the 2026 Hajj exercise.
Governor Buni stated this on Thursday when the National Hajj Commission’s (NAHCON) Sensitisation Committee paid him a courtesy visit in Damaturu the state capital.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, also expressed his delight that the state was the first in the North East to conclude airlifting its pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria after the Hajj exercise.
He attributed the success to effective planning, discipline and cooperation by the state government, state Hajj Commission, religious leaders and the pilgrims.
Buni pledged to comply with the newly introduced NAHCON guidelines for 2027 exercise, especially the completion of payment of transportation fare and registration of intending pilgrims before the September 26, 2026, deadline.
The governor appealed to the officials to continue to provide the necessary guidance, support and advocacy to pilgrims, particularly those from the North East.
He noted that the region had unique challenges, requiring urgent support and highest possible standard of services.
Buni commended the commission for introducing several sweeping reforms, which made Hajj more effective and worthwhile.
In his remarks, the committee’s Chairman and NAHCOM Commissioner Representing North East, Alhaji Abba Jato, said the committee was in the state to sensitise stakeholders on the new Hajj policy introduced by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
He said the Saudis were migrating from government to government management of Hajj, pushing towards a private tour operators model called B2B.
“Initially, they demanded that 98 per cent of Nigeria’s quota be shifted to this model immediately. However, NAHCON pushed back. We argued that such a sudden move will disrupt our financial system and make Hajj exorbitant to average Nigerian pilgrim.
“Through intense negotiations, we secured a critical concession: Only 30 per cent of our quota will move to the new model in 2027, and we have bought ourselves three years transition window,” Jato said.
The chairman said Saudi government had warned that the deadline for uploading all pilgrims registration data remained September 26, and no extension would be granted.
He said presentation of health fitness certification was mandatory, adding that intending pilgrims with major organ failure, severe neurological/psychiatric condition, pregnancy or active infection diseases were prohibited from the Hajj.
“Furthermore, visa issuance for office members is conditional upon completing mandatory training track and obtaining the professional qualification on or before 28th January, 2027. Medical personnel ratio for 2027 Hajj will be minimum of 1.5 doctors and 1.7 nurses per 1000 pilgrims.
“We are therefore respectfully requesting Your Excellency’s intervention to direct the state Pilgrims Commission and all relevant stakeholders to accord the highest priority to pilgrims registration, documentation and payment processes. We must beat this deadline, or we risk losing our state’s allocation slots,” Jato said.
Speaking earlier upon their arrival at the Yobe State Hajj Commission office in Damaturu, the North-East Commissioner has commended the state Chairman, Alhaji Mai Aliyu Usman, for his honesty and integrity in handling the Hajj.
Responding, the state chairman of the State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Mai Aliyu Usman Biriri, expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the state government under HIs Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, and commended the NAHCON for its successful handling of the Hajj affairs.
