Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate for the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), made this assertion in an interview published on X on Wednesday.
A faith-based civil society group, CSO, the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has petitioned the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, and state pilgrim boards to require pre-registration security screening for all intending pilgrims prior to the 2027 Hajj.
The group, which monitors Hajj and Umrah operations, issued the call in response to the recent arrest of suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders upon their return from Hajj, which it termed as a warning sign for Nigeria’s pilgrimage system.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, IHR stated that “pre-registration screening should be made compulsory for all intending pilgrims participating in the 2027 Hajj exercise.”
The group requested that NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards form dedicated security screening committees to evaluate prospective pilgrims who have paid the initial payment before final registration is completed.
“NAHCON and the State Boards should create security screening committees that will visit states every two weeks to obtain the profiles of intending pilgrims and properly vet them to prevent a repeat of what recently happened in Katsina State,” the statement said.
IHR also advocated a centralised, automated pilgrim registration database with NAHCON permit-enabled synchronisation, stating that the technology should signal security risk indicators to assist Hajj authorities in “weeding out individuals or groups with dubious mindsets.”
The group recalls that certain wanted criminal individuals were apprehended at Hajj boarding sites during the 2025 trip.
“These incidents justify the need for thorough security screening of all intending pilgrims before the issuance of a visa every Hajj season,” it said.
The IHR commended the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s reduced registration timeline for 2027, but stated that security must not be sacrificed for speed.
“We understand the accelerated registration schedule for the 2027 Hajj and the necessity to expedite the procedure. However, security must remain a top priority in any activity involving cross-border travel and significant numbers of people,” the group stated.