Saudi Arabia Rejects Nigeria’s Request for More 2027 Hajj Slots

Saudi Arabia Rejects Nigeria’s Request for More 2027 Hajj Slots

Saudi Arabia has rejected Nigeria’s request for an increase in its 2027 Hajj quota, leaving the country with an approved allocation of 50,000 pilgrims for next year’s pilgrimage.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) disclosed the development after formally engaging the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to seek additional slots in response to growing demand among intending Nigerian pilgrims and appeals from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards.

The Saudi authorities declined the request, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of maintaining approved country quotas under its existing operational framework.

The decision means Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation will remain at 50,000 places, comprising 35,000 slots for government pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed private Hajj tour operators.

NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the commission understood the disappointment the decision could cause intending pilgrims and state pilgrims’ welfare boards that had expected an increase.

Yusuf said the commission had explored available diplomatic and operational channels in an effort to secure an upward review but would respect the decision of the Saudi authorities.

He urged state pilgrims’ welfare boards, relevant agencies and licensed tour operators to make transparent and judicious use of their approved allocations while complying with the timelines established by NAHCON and the Saudi authorities.

A major deadline now facing stakeholders is September 26, 2026, when the uploading of prospective pilgrims’ details on the designated Saudi Nusuk-Masar platform is scheduled to close.

NAHCON has warned that the deadline will not be extended and has urged state boards, tour operators and other representatives to ensure that all required pilgrim information is submitted before the cut-off date.

The commission has also advised Nigerians who are unable to secure a place under the 2027 Hajj quota to consider registering for the 2028 pilgrimage, noting that registration for the subsequent Hajj season has already opened.

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The quota decision comes as preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage continue under tighter registration and payment timelines.

NAHCON had earlier approved 2027 Hajj fares ranging from ₦7,560,822 to ₦7,882,822, depending on the pilgrims’ departure zone.

The Maiduguri/Yola zone has the lowest fare of ₦7,560,822, while the Northern Zone fare is ₦7,672,822 and the Southern Zone has the highest fare at ₦7,882,822.

The commission said the fares were determined after consideration of prevailing exchange rates and service costs.

Intending pilgrims who had previously paid ₦5 million are required to settle the outstanding balance applicable to their departure zones to complete their registration.

States are also expected to complete the remittance of the 2027 Hajj fares by December 2, 2026.

NAHCON has separately clarified the distribution of the 50,000 approved slots following reports alleging that 5,000 Hajj slots had been diverted.

The commission rejected the allegation and said the approved allocation consists of 35,000 slots for the states and Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 for duly licensed private Hajj operators operating under seven approved lead companies.

NAHCON urged private operators with concerns about the allocation process to use established regulatory and dispute-resolution channels rather than relying on allegations about the distribution.

The commission’s clarification comes as licensed operators are required to meet Saudi registration requirements and comply with the prescribed digital-upload timelines.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has warned intending pilgrims and tour operators against individuals demanding money in exchange for supposedly guaranteed or “special” Hajj slots.

The commission said no individual, agent, tour operator or other person was authorised to demand a facilitation fee or additional payment to secure a special 2027 Hajj allocation.

It advised members of the public to make payments only through officially designated channels and to report suspicious demands to law enforcement agencies.

The warning is particularly relevant given the limited number of available places and the demand for the pilgrimage.

NAHCON said failure to meet the published deadlines for pilgrim data uploads and payment could result in the forfeiture of allocated Hajj slots, regardless of assurances from unauthorised individuals.

The commission has also indicated that further information on the operational guidelines and implementation of the new business-to-business framework for the 2027 Hajj will be communicated through its official channels.

For Nigerian pilgrims and Hajj administrators, the immediate task is therefore to work within the fixed 50,000-slot allocation, complete the required registration processes and meet the Saudi and NAHCON deadlines.

The September 26 deadline applies to the uploading of prospective pilgrims’ data, while December 2 is the deadline set for states to complete remittance of the required 2027 Hajj fares.

With Saudi Arabia declining Nigeria’s request for additional places, the country will proceed with the 2027 Hajj under the existing 50,000-pilgrim quota.

Saudi Arabia Rejects Nigeria’s Request for More 2027 Hajj Slots