Rasheed Abubakar
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has called on Nigerian pilgrims to strictly adhere to all operational and safety instructions as movement to Mina begins tonight, Sunday, May 24, marking the commencement of the critical Mashair phase of the 2026 Hajj.
The directive was issued during a pre Hajj 2026 meeting held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where stakeholders finalized logistics for the coordinated movement of Nigerian pilgrims across Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
Muslim News gathered that the movement will begin tonight and continue through to Tuesday, May 26 (Tarwiyah day or preparation day), as pilgrims gradually join millions of others already converging in the Mashair area ahead of the peak rites of Hajj.
The commission stressed that strict adherence to approved schedules, transport arrangements and field instructions remains essential to ensure safety, prevent congestion and maintain order during the mass movement period.
The meeting, held under the leadership of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Amb. Ismaila Yusuf, was attended by stakeholders including state pilgrims welfare boards, Islamic scholars, medical mission officials and private tour operators, among others.
Addressing the session on the Tradudiyya (shuttle transport) arrangement and Jamaraat (stoning ritual site) operations, Mal. Ishaq Ibrahim Jae emphasized that all movement protocols must be strictly observed to prevent congestion and ensure coordinated execution of rites across all Nigerian contingents.
In a PowerPoint presentation, he said the system was designed to strengthen safety and coordination during the most sensitive phase of the pilgrimage.
He stated, “All pilgrims must strictly follow assigned schedules and movement instructions. No pilgrim is permitted to move outside their designated group or time window. Compliance is mandatory for safety and orderly conduct of the rites.”
Unveils state by state tent allocation for safer Mashair operations
Mal. Ibrahim Jae explained that the Nigerian contingent is operating under a structured coordination system covering accommodation, transport and movement control across the holy sites.
He said pilgrims have been systematically grouped into tent allocations based on states to enhance supervision, identification and crowd control.
Under the arrangement, Tent One accommodates pilgrims from Niger State, Jigawa State and Benue State. Tent Two covers Kaduna State and Nasarawa State. Tent Three includes Bauchi State and Gombe State, while Tent Four accommodates Kano State and Kebbi State.
Other allocations place Federal Capital Territory pilgrims alongside Katsina State, while Ogun State, Oyo State and Ondo State are grouped within designated sections. Yobe State and Borno State pilgrims are also placed under a joint operational unit.
Zamfara State, Bayelsa State and Edo State are grouped together, while Adamawa State and Taraba State share another section. Kwara State pilgrims are grouped with contingents from the Armed Forces and NAHCON officials, while Imo State pilgrims are assigned a separate section. Lagos State and Ekiti State are grouped together, while Kogi State and Sokoto State also share a tent allocation.
Mal. Ibrahim Jae said the structure was designed to improve crowd control, simplify Tafweej (group movement) operations and ensure continuous supervision throughout the rites in Mina and Arafat. He added that the arrangement also supports emergency response, medical assistance delivery and smooth execution of the Jamaraat (stoning ritual site) schedule.
The commission warned that past tragedies at Jamaraat (stoning ritual site), including incidents in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006 and the 2015 Mina disaster, underscore the need for strict adherence to safety rules and movement schedules.
Places 50,645 Nigerian pilgrims under strict Saudi shuttle movement system
Mal. Ibrahim Jae stated that about 50,645 Nigerian pilgrims are operating under the Saudi Tradudiyya (shuttle transport) system, which regulates movement between holy sites.
He explained that about 40,939 pilgrims will use shuttle buses, while 9,910 will follow traditional transport arrangements, stressing that pilgrims must board only at designated camp points and move strictly according to approved schedules.
The commission further emphasized that all movement between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah must follow fixed Tafweej (group movement) timing. He warned that pilgrims must not move outside assigned windows or use unauthorized routes.
It added that movement from Muzdalifah directly to Jamaraat (stoning ritual site) is prohibited, noting that all pilgrims must return to Mina before proceeding for Rami (stoning ritual). Each group, it said, must not exceed 180 pilgrims and must remain together throughout the movement process.
Divides Nigerian pilgrims into 16 field offices for tighter coordination
NAHCON disclosed that Nigeria has been divided into sixteen field offices, each overseeing between 3,200 and 3,700 pilgrims. Each field office further divides pilgrims into groups of 180 persons, supported by trained guides fluent in Arabic and Nigerian local languages.
Group leaders are required to carry identification boards showing Mutawwif (pilgrims service provider) company details, field office numbers and batch information, while pilgrims are prohibited from moving independently.
The commission also prohibited stopping along routes except in emergencies, where only the affected pilgrim and one assistant may remain behind.
State pilgrim boards and group leaders have been directed to conduct mandatory briefings before the start of the Mashair rites. Each group must appoint a Jamaraat (stoning ritual site) coordinator, while elderly, women and vulnerable pilgrims are to be assigned safer movement schedules.
Officials are required to maintain real time headcounts, display movement schedules at camps and enforce strict discipline during transit. Pilgrims were also warned against stopping, sitting or using mobile phones during movement, while provisions may be made for proxies for those unable to perform the rituals.
After each Rami (stoning ritual) session, group leaders are expected to submit completion reports confirming that all pilgrims have safely completed the ritual.
Meanwhile, NAHCON also addressed concerns raised by a state pilgrims welfare board regarding accommodation standards in Mina and Arafat for Nigerian pilgrims, stressing that all arrangements followed established consultation processes.
Other issues discussed during the pre Hajj meeting will be published in a separate report.
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