No Contract Rollover: NAHCON Sets Record Straight on 2026 Hajj Procurement

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed concern over persistent misrepresentation and misinformation regarding the engagement of Hajj service providers for the 2026 Hajj operations.

The Commission described as false and misleading the claims suggesting that it sought or applied for a rollover approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for 2025 Hajj service providers.

For clarity, NAHCON emphasized that it never requested a rollover of contracts from the BPP. The decision not to open a fresh bidding process for certain 2026 Hajj services, according to the Commission, was strictly informed by the emergency nature of Hajj operations, the BPP advertisement rule, and the extremely tight timelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all participating countries.

This clarification was issued to newsmen by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Ahmad explained that its approach aligns fully with Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which allows emergency procurement where time constraints make standard tender processes impracticable. It noted that the Saudi Hajj calendar is fixed, non-negotiable, and applies equally to all Hajj missions worldwide, with Nigeria being no exception.

He further clarified that the re-engagement of service providers does not imply automatic renewal or preservation of existing contract terms. Following the 2025 Hajj, the Commission conducted performance reviews, service evaluations, and satisfaction assessments across all service areas. Based on these findings, it is under no obligation to retain identical contractual terms, scope, or volume arrangements previously applied in 2025.

Ahmad reaffirmed that Commission’s guiding principles remain transparency, accountability, value for money, and quality service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims. Adding that any engagement of service providers for the 2026 Hajj is based on past performance, operational capacity, compliance history, and the ability to meet Saudi regulatory requirements within the available timeframe.

He further warned that NAHCON would not tolerate any attempt to exploit the emergency nature of the 2026 Hajj operations to undermine its statutory mandate or distort public understanding of its procurement processes. He advised all stakeholders to desist from misusing public procurement discourse in ways that mislead the public or mischaracterize lawful administrative decisions.

Ahmad encouraged service providers and interested parties with genuine concerns regarding contractual engagements to formally submit their complaints or requests for clarification to the Commission. He stated that NAHCON has established mechanisms for dispute resolution and remains committed to fair hearing and institutional accountability.

Reiterating NAHCON’s commitment to open engagement, Ahmad assured that their doors remain open to all partners dedicated to the successful delivery of Hajj operations, emphasizing that constructive engagement not misinformation remains the pathway to strengthening Nigeria’s Hajj administration and safeguarding the welfare of pilgrims.