By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Renowned Islamic scholar and former Chairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Hon. Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, popularly known as Hon Iyepe, has unveiled an extensive operational framework for the 2026 Hajj, announcing that his organisation will coordinate the movement, welfare and spiritual guidance of 340 pilgrims, including 90 from the diaspora.
Speaking exclusively on Saturday, 9 May, 2026, during a one-day seminar and orientation programme held at the Governor’s Apartments, Omole Phase 1, Lagos,
The seminar, themed “Serving the Guests of Allah’, featured orientation sessions, vaccination exercises and spiritual guidance for intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
The former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs disclosed that preparations for the pilgrimage had reached an advanced stage ahead of the commencement of airlift operations on May 11.
The respected Islamic cleric explained that the Hajj operation was built on a carefully structured system covering education, health, logistics, accommodation, transportation and spiritual development to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience for all participants.
According to him, the preparation process began with a five-month intensive educational programme designed to equip pilgrims with practical and spiritual understanding of Hajj rites, Islamic jurisprudence and expected conduct during the pilgrimage.
He stated that the training also focused on behavioural discipline and compliance with Nigerian and Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations.
“In terms of preparation, we ran a five months education programme for all our pilgrims on all relevant topics in Islam. We conducted an examination for our pilgrims on Sunday, 3 May, 2026 and all the pilgrims who sat for the examination scored above 50 percent. Not a single pilgrim failed,” he said.
Hon AbdulLateef noted that the successful outcome of the exercise reflected the commitment of the pilgrims and the seriousness attached to proper Hajj preparation.
He stressed that adequate education remained essential to preventing confusion during the rites in Makkah and Madinah.
Furthermore, he disclosed that all pilgrims had undergone comprehensive medical screening, while vaccination exercises would be conducted by the Port Health Authority before departure.
To strengthen coordination, he explained that the 340 pilgrims had been divided into about 30 smaller groups, each supervised by designated leaders responsible for communication, welfare monitoring and movement coordination.
“We have divided the 340 pilgrims into smaller groups for ease of coordination. All medical tests have been done and the vaccination of all our pilgrims will hold next Saturday to be administered by the Port Health Authority,” he added.
The former Amirul Hajj for Lagos State also revealed that a central working committee and volunteer corps had been established to oversee medical services, welfare support, accommodation, transportation, media coordination and religious guidance throughout the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, Hon AbdulLateef confirmed that all visas and flight tickets had been secured ahead of the scheduled airlift operations.
He explained that pilgrims would depart in batches through Qatar Airways, Egypt Air and Emirates Airline beginning from Monday, 11 May, 2026.
“The first batch of pilgrims will depart with Qatar Airways on the morning of Monday 11 May, 2026 In shaa Allah. The second batch will depart with Egypt Airways in the afternoon of May 11, 2026. The third and fourth batches will depart with Qatar Airways on the morning of May 14, 2026. The fifth batch will depart with Qatar Airways on May 15, 2026, while the sixth batch will depart with Emirates Airline in the afternoon of May 15, 2026,” he explained.
He further disclosed that the 90 diaspora pilgrims would join the Nigerian contingent in Madinah, describing the operation as a transnational coordination effort.
Speaking on operational challenges, the former NDIC chairman explained that the restriction placed on private Hajj operators necessitated collaboration with licensed tour operators to accommodate all intending pilgrims.
“This year, no private company was given more than 69 slots. What we did was to collaborate and partner with well-established licensed tour operators to accommodate our pilgrims so they can perform Hajj as prescribed by Allah and practised by Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” he said.
He, however, reaffirmed full compliance with the guidelines of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and Saudi Arabian authorities, including registration on the Nusuk platform and adherence to crowd management protocols.
Reflecting on the scale of the operation, Hon AbdulLateef described the responsibility as both spiritual and demanding.
“Generally, we see 340 pilgrims as a great trial from Allah. It is not easy to coordinate 50 pilgrims, not to even talk of 340. However, I have once taken over 4,000 pilgrims to Hajj when I was Amirul Hajj for Lagos State,” he stated.
He recalled that Lagos State won seven out of eight national awards from NAHCON during his tenure as Amirul Hajj.
The Islamic scholar also explained that his organisation deliberately prioritises quality service over expansion.
“My organisation is the youngest, not the largest. We do not want to be the largest. We just wish to make Hajj performance easy for as many pilgrims as possible,” he said.
Similarly, he endorsed Saudi Arabia’s “No Hajj Permit, No Hajj” policy, describing it as a necessary measure to prevent overcrowding and improve safety during pilgrimage operations.
“I fully support the policy because it helps to prevent stampede and enhances smooth movement of pilgrims,” he noted.
Hon AbdulLateef further urged pilgrims and stakeholders to approach Hajj with sincerity, discipline and fear of Allah.
“Whenever you are given the opportunity to serve, serve well because whatever you do today will come back to you tomorrow as reward or punishment,” he said.
Also speaking at the orientation programme, the Executive Director of Abdullateef Integrated Hajj and Tours Ltd, Hajia Salmah Mojisola Odebunmi, described the gathering as “a moment of divine selection.”
“Among millions of Muslims across the world, Allah has chosen you to visit His house. Allah has chosen you to stand on the sacred plain of Arafat. Allah has chosen you to start a journey that can change your life forever,” she told the pilgrims.
She added that the organisation’s mission transcended logistics and profit.
“We are not just organising a trip. We are guiding a sacred journey. A journey that must be done right, sincerely and accepted by Allah,” she stated.
According to her, the organisation successfully coordinated 84 pilgrims during the previous Hajj exercise, while the figure rose significantly to 340 pilgrims for 2026.
“This is not coincidence. This is Allah’s Rahmah and also a sign that the people we served last year trusted us because of our services,” she added.
She therefore urged pilgrims to remain spiritually focused and take the seminar seriously ahead of the sacred journey.
“A successful Hajj is not measured by comfort. It is measured by transformation and by who you become after you return,” she said.
