National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), has unveiled a comprehensive set of new travel, ticketing and medical compliance rules for all intending pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj, introducing some of the most stringent regulations seen in recent years.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara, the Commission directed all approved Hajj carriers to immediately begin issuing flight tickets to pilgrims, ensuring that every traveller is fully aware of their confirmed departure date, time and location well ahead of schedule.
According to NAHCON, the new early-ticketing directive is designed to eradicate recurring errors in pre-arrival data sent to Saudi authorities; errors that have historically delayed the issuance of Nusuk cards and caused wide-ranging operational disruptions.
The commission emphasised that beginning with the 2026 exercise, each pilgrim’s ticket will be digitally synchronised with their Nusuk card, hotel allocation and group movement plan. This digital linkage is part of a broader overhaul aimed at enforcing order, transparency and traceability from departure to return.
Under the updated rules, pilgrims will no longer be permitted to switch groups once visas have been issued. Group movement will now be rigidly enforced, with each cluster of 45 pilgrims assigned a leader and required to travel, lodge and return together. Any pilgrim who misses their scheduled flight will be treated as a no-show and may face penalties, including financial charges for unused seats.
NAHCON further disclosed that it must upload all pre-arrival data such as group numbers, accommodation addresses, building details and individual bed-space assignments to Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk Masar platform at least 72 hours before every flight departure.
The commission also announced strict enforcement of Saudi Arabia’s new medical fitness regulations, which bar individuals with any of nine disqualifying health conditions from embarking on the pilgrimage. These conditions include major organ failure, active infectious diseases, severe psychiatric or neurological disorders, high-risk pregnancies and other medically sensitive ailments.
Anyone who bypasses the medical screening and is later found unfit in Saudi Arabia will bear the full cost of their deportation, NAHCON warned. To ensure credibility, state pilgrims’ boards have been instructed to partner only with certified hospitals for issuing fitness certificates.
NAHCON disclosed that it has already concluded arrangements for camp bookings and other services but cautioned that states risk forfeiting allocated slots if they delay remitting their payments. Registration for the 2026 pilgrimage is scheduled to close on Friday, and intending pilgrims have been urged to complete outstanding payments within 24 hours.
The statement also confirmed that Air Peace, FlyNas, Max Air and Umza Air have been approved as official carriers for the 2026 Hajj, with allocations already communicated to state boards.
