BY AHMED AKANBI
A faith-based civil society organisation, (CSO), the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has raised concerns over information overload during Hajj operations and called for urgent action ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 2026 Hajj Lecture and Awards held at the National Mosque Auditorium, Abuja, on Thursday, and jointly signed by Muhammad Suleiman Tola and Garba Muhammad as rapporteurs.
IHR, an umbrella of journalists committed to reporting and advocating workable policies within the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem, said the avalanche of conflicting information is now a major challenge to seamless operations.
To address this, the organisation said it has constituted a Media Monitoring Team to ensure real-time tracking and reporting of operations and services.
The conference also drew attention to the fast-expiring deadlines for the 2027 Hajj exercise and urged all stakeholders to buckle up.
IHR noted that Hajj and Umrah have gone beyond spirituality to become a hub of economic opportunities, and called on operators and entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities in transportation, aviation, accommodation, hospitality, catering, healthcare, financial, retail and logistics services.
According to the communique, Hajj has evolved into a global mirror for Islam and Muslims, and therefore, stressed the need for efficient full-package service delivery to secure a positive image for Nigeria, with pilgrims’ welfare as the central focus.
The conference lauded the efforts of security agencies and urged more synergy and proactiveness in securing the lives and properties of pilgrims and officials.
On financing, IHR noted the growing role of Islamic financing in Hajj, Umrah and global businesses, and recommended its adoption by all stakeholders and further called for the establishment of a Nigeria-Saudi Halal Investment Forum to promote trade, commerce and businesses.
To cut costs and improve service delivery, the conference recommended the establishment of a hospital or health facility in Saudi Arabia for Nigerian pilgrims, in line with Saudi rules.
It also noted that the aviation component of Hajj and Umrah operations is enormous and called for more domestic airline patronage in line with Saudi guidelines and minimum requirements.
IHR further encouraged the domestic production of Hajj essentials such as bags and ihram clothing to boost Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity.
The organisation also appreciated the role of tour operators in delivering satisfactory services and enjoined them to align with emerging trends and challenges.