The Hajj pilgrimage is central to Nigeria–Saudi Arabia relations, extending beyond its religious obligations to encompass diplomacy, governance, and economic dimensions. Despite efforts by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), recurring challenges in pilgrims’ welfare, weak accountability, and governance lapses have undermined Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility. By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes digitization, efficiency, and transparency in Hajj administration, setting a benchmark that Nigeria must adapt to remain credible and strengthen bilateral ties. This study aims to analyze how pilgrims’ welfare and accountability mechanisms influence Nigeria–Saudi relations and to propose a Vision 2030–aligned framework for NAHCON. The specific objectives were to assess the state of welfare and accountability in Nigeria’s Hajj administration, evaluate their impact on bilateral relations, and identify reforms necessary for alignment with Saudi standards. Adopting a mixed-methods design, the study combined survey data from 400 pilgrims with qualitative evidence from documents and media reports. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses were employed alongside thematic analysis for explanatory depth. Findings show that welfare services were rated moderately (means ≈3.4–3.5), while accountability mechanisms received weaker ratings (means ≈3.1). Regression results revealed accountability (β = 0.520) had a stronger impact than welfare (β = 0.387) on perceptions of Nigeria–Saudi relations, highlighting governance credibility as central to diplomatic outcomes. The study contributes by providing empirical evidence that links Hajj administration with foreign policy outcomes, advancing a Vision 2030–aligned framework for NAHCON that integrates welfare, transparency, digital transformation, and diplomacy, thereby positioning Hajj as a tool of Nigeria’s soft power and bilateral engagement.