By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Jeddah, May 20, 2026 (NAN) Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Wednesday held its 50th Grand Hajj Symposium in Jeddah with the participation of distinguished group of ministers, scholars, thinkers, researchers, and specialists from across the Islamic world.
The symposium comes as an extension of the support provided by the Saudi government in serving pilgrims and its continued commitment to developing the Hajj system.
It discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts in developing the system of serving pilgrims over the decades, and its impact on guiding pilgrims’ behaviour and enhancing the quality of their experience.
It also harped on employment of knowledge, innovation, data, and modern technologies to improve operational efficiency and anticipate the future of Hajj services.
Speakers at the programme included the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al Rabiah and the Chairman, Saudi Councilof Senior Scholars and the Mufti of Saidi Arabia, Sheikh Salih Al Fawzan.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) representatives were also present at the symposium.
Prof. Musa Fodio, NAHCON board member representing Jamatul Nasirul Islam led the commission’s delegation.
Fodio said that the symposium emphasised on the issue of compliance with the rules and guidelines of Hajj operations.
According to him, emphasis was laid on the fact that the rules and guidelines were actually determined scientifically.
“In fact, we went through some of the syndicate sections and they demonstrated how they arrived at those rules and regulations, and they are going to scientifically monitor compliance with those rules and regulations.
“Not just that the pilgrims will be seen physically, they also have control rooms where they will be looking at the level of compliance with the rules.
“It is actually a very serious matter.
We are expected to go back and engage, enlighten, and sensitise, and guide our pilgrims,” he said.
He said that the symposium also discussed the issue of slaughtering of rams for Sallah during the Hajj period.
“What they have done is that as people pay, they actually buy the rams. There is no fraud in it. They just try to convince us that it is not actually a fraudulent thing.
“If one million pay for slaughter, they slaughter one million animals, and it is for international assistance.
“They have devised a means of redistributing the meat. In fact, this includes the people that have done the slaughter. If you need, they said there is a way somebody can get the meat,” he said.
He said that the Saudi authorities had asked the organisations like NAHCON to go back and organise themselves and ensure that they work towards the success of the 2027 Hajj operations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
