Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has successfully completed the upload of data for all 2,404 registered intending pilgrims from the State on the E-Track Masar Portal, ahead of the official closure of the portal by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
According to a press release by Faruku Umar, Head of Information and Communications of the Agency, this was disclosed by the Chairman of the Agency, Alhaji Aliyu Musa, during a meeting with Assistant Hajj Registration Officers from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Alhaji Aliyu Musa explained that with the closure of the Masar Portal, a new Hajj era has commenced, noting that the Saudi Arabian authorities, in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has introduced new policies aimed at ensuring a smooth and well-coordinated 2026 Hajj exercise.
According to him, one of the key new guidelines introduced for airlines is the issuance of flight tickets well ahead of departure, adding that every pilgrim must clearly know their exact date, time, and place of departure.
He warned that missing a scheduled flight (no-show) will attract penalties, as each pilgrim’s ticket will be digitally linked to their Nusuk Card.
The Chairman further stated that pilgrims will now travel in groups of 45, adding that each group will depart together, be accommodated together in the same hotels in Makkah, Madinah, and Masha’ir, and return to Nigeria together after Hajj.
He also revealed that the new policy requires NAHCON to upload pre-arrival data on the Nusuk Masar platform at least 72 hours before the departure of any aircraft conveying pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He emphasized that pilgrims will not be allowed to change groups after visa issuance.
Alhaji Aliyu Musa assured that the Agency has adjusted its registration processes to ensure full compliance with all the new guidelines, in order to safeguard the welfare of Sokoto State pilgrims and guarantee a hitch-free Hajj operation.
