The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has inaugurated the 2026 Hajj Ulama Team and deployed 120 prominent Islamic scholars across the country to strengthen pilgrims’ education, spiritual orientation, and guidance ahead of the forthcoming Hajj exercise.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Information and Publications Division of the Commission, signed by Fatima Sanda Usara, following a strategic engagement held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Conference Hall, Hajj House, Abuja.
The meeting brought together 120 respected Islamic clerics from across Nigeria, including Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, Sheikh Bala Lau, Sheikh Abdulmuhyi Nasir (representing Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir), Sheikh Abdulrahman Olanrewaju Ahmed, Sheikh Nasir Adam, Sheikh Muhammad Kabir Haruna Gombe, Sheikh Usman Usman Dahiru Bauchi, Dr Isa Akindele Solahuddeen, among others.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Chairman of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deepening pilgrims’ education and strengthening their spiritual preparedness ahead of the 2026 Hajj.
He said the engagement with the Ulama was central to NAHCON’s strategy for ensuring proper orientation of pilgrims, noting that scholars will play a key role in delivering sensitisation programmes in multiple languages before departure and during the pilgrimage.
Ambassador Abba tasked the Ulama team to guide pilgrims on the essential rites and principles of Hajj, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the obligations required for a valid and acceptable pilgrimage.
He further stressed the need for continuous guidance and prompt response to pilgrims’ concerns, especially issues that may affect the validity of their Hajj performance.
The Commission also mandated the Ulama team to organise special prayer sessions at key locations during Hajj, particularly at Arafat, for Nigeria’s leadership, national unity, peace, security, and economic prosperity.
In his remarks, Professor Bashir Umar urged the scholars to encourage their communities to pray for peaceful elections in Nigeria, noting that the 2026 Hajj will take place within the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
The Ulama collectively emphasised the importance of nurturing pilgrims’ mental readiness, promoting unity, sincerity, patience, and total devotion to Allah, while reinforcing Hajj as a deeply transformative act of worship.
The scholars affirmed their readiness to work with NAHCON in ensuring a spiritually enriching and well-guided pilgrimage experience for Nigerian pilgrims in 2026.
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