Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised the Federal Government’s intervention in the 2026 Hajj operation, saying the support provided by President Bola Tinubu helped Nigeria achieve a smoother and more successful pilgrimage despite difficult economic and global conditions.

Shettima spoke on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving the report of the 2026 Hajj operations from the fourth board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by its Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf.

The Vice President said the successful completion of the 2026 Hajj reflected the importance of effective leadership and timely government intervention, particularly at a period when the global management of Hajj is undergoing major changes.

According to him, NAHCON has continued to play a crucial role in coordinating the affairs of Nigerian pilgrims, while the commission’s current leadership had demonstrated improved capacity in managing the complex arrangements involved in the annual pilgrimage.

Shettima specifically credited President Tinubu with intervening at a critical point in the Hajj process, saying the President’s support helped resolve challenges that could have affected the smooth conduct of the exercise.

“I must thank Mr President for decisively coming to the rescue of NAHCON. We want to thank him for the support that culminated in such a highly successful and seamless operation,” the Vice President said.

He also commended the NAHCON board and its chairman for what he described as professionalism, confidence and capacity throughout the 2026 operation, urging the commission to sustain the momentum and continue working collectively.

“I am very proud of the NAHCON chairman. He has shown capacity and exhibited a very high sense of professionalism and willingness to carry on board members,” Shettima said.

The Vice President noted that the government could no longer afford to treat Hajj administration as an isolated public-sector responsibility, especially as the international pilgrimage industry continues to move away from the traditional government-to-government arrangement towards a business-to-business model.

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He therefore stressed the importance of stronger institutional capacity, effective stakeholder coordination and government support to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims are not left disadvantaged by changes in the global Hajj environment.

Earlier, Yusuf expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for what he described as sustained executive backing throughout the 2026 Hajj preparations and operations.

The NAHCON chairman said government interventions were particularly important in addressing foreign exchange challenges, securing basic travelling allowance for pilgrims and cushioning the impact of unexpected increases in aviation fuel costs.

He explained that the measures helped reduce the financial pressure on pilgrims and contributed to keeping the religious obligation accessible despite difficult economic and geopolitical circumstances around the world.

Yusuf further credited Shettima’s direct guidance with helping to bring various stakeholders together and improve coordination throughout the operation.

From the early stages of preparation to the transportation of pilgrims and the management of logistics within the Makkah and Madinah areas, he said Nigerian pilgrims were given priority attention and treated with dignity.

He described the 2026 Hajj operation as a product of coordinated efforts among government agencies, service providers and other stakeholders, with the timely interventions of the Federal Government helping NAHCON navigate some of the major challenges surrounding the pilgrimage.

The presentation of the report therefore marked not only a review of the 2026 exercise but also a reflection on the changing nature of Hajj administration and the need for Nigeria to continuously strengthen its systems to meet emerging global standards.