The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Mashariq Al Dhahabia, a Saudi Arabian company hired to service Nigerian pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj, have signed a revised contract agreement.
During a press event on Saturday, NAHCON Chairman Prof. Abdullahi Usman Saleh stated that the altered agreement would mean Mashariq Al Dhahabia would no longer be able to accommodate the 95,000 prospective Nigerian pilgrims.
The company will accommodate 52,000 pilgrims expected to participate in the activity.
According to the Daily Trust, Mashariq Al Dhahabia threatened to sue NAHCON for breach of contract when the commission contracted with other organizations to cater for Nigerian pilgrims in Mashair, the five-day Hajj rituals performed at tents in Muna, Muzdhalifa, and Arafah.
The company claimed that NAHCON only authorized them to register 26,287 on Saudi Arabia’s NUSUK system for international pilgrimage services, while also requesting a meeting to discuss the infringement within 20 days of its letter, failing which it would resort to court arbitration.
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However, NAHCON replied by dividing the number of pilgrims the firm would assist during the journey in order to address operational issues and prevent a monopoly in Hajj activities.
Speaking at the press event, the chairman stated that Mashariq Al Dhahabia, led by CEO Muhammad Hassan, paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria and signed the updated agreement.
“Everyone can see that there is no chance we can obtain the 95,000. As a result, the registered pilgrims, rather than the 95,000 anticipated, must now be included in the agreement. So it calls for an amendment because it was stated in the previous agreement that we would be arriving with 95,000 pilgrims, which is not conceivable.
“Now that they have closed the registration of pilgrims and space from Saudi Arabia, we can only do 52,000.” So that is the only change we made to the agreement, to quote the actual sum we will have at the Mashair this time around.”
He further informed all intending Nigerian pilgrims this year that NACHON had completed all arrangements and that the Hajj operation would go smoothly and successfully “by the grace of Allah.”
Hassan, on his part, stated that the purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the relationship between the two entities and to discuss ways for better serving Nigerian pilgrims.
He further stated that both sides had finalized all contractual arrangements.