By Ado Oyeyemi
Saudi Arabia has turned down 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 disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying it had approached the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for additional slots following increased demand from intending pilgrims and appeals from state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
According to NAHCON, the Saudi authorities cited capacity constraints at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of adhering to approved country quotas under the existing operational framework.
The commission said the Saudi authorities communicated their inability to approve additional slots, citing “capacity limitations, structural constraints within the holy sites” and the need to maintain the existing quota system.
Reacting to the decision, the NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amb. Ismail Yusuf, acknowledged the disappointment it could cause intending pilgrims and state pilgrims’ welfare boards that had hoped for an increase.
Yusuf said the commission had explored available diplomatic and operational channels to secure additional slots but accepted the final decision of the Saudi authorities.
“We appreciate the deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand the expectations of states and stakeholders seeking additional slots.
“While every effort was made to secure an upward review, the Saudi authorities have communicated their final position based on operational realities and capacity considerations,” he said.
The NAHCON chairman urged state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and licensed tour operators to use their approved allocations judiciously and transparently while complying with all deadlines set by the commission and the Saudi Nusuk platform.
He stressed that September 26, 2026, remained the deadline for uploading the details of all prospective Nigerian pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj, warning that there would be no extension.
“Kindly note that the deadline for uploading prospective pilgrims’ data remains September 26, 2026.
We urge all partners, state pilgrim boards, tour operators and representatives to ensure that all required information is submitted before this date, as no extensions will be granted,” Yusuf said.
He advised Nigerians who could not secure slots for the 2027 pilgrimage to register for the 2028 Hajj, noting that the commission had opened the registration portal for the subsequent exercise.
Under the approved allocation, Nigeria will receive 50,000 slots for the 2027 Hajj, with 35,000 allocated to government pilgrims and 15,000 reserved for licensed tour operators.
NAHCON said it remained committed to ensuring transparency, fairness and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, adding that preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage were progressing.
The commission added that further information on operational guidelines and the rollout of the new business-to-business framework for the 2027 Hajj would be communicated through its official channels.
It also urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the commission, noting that compliance with the quota approved by Saudi Arabia was a global requirement for participating countries.
Meanwhile, NAHCON has fixed September 26, 2026, as the final deadline for uploading the biometric details of all intending pilgrims on the designated Nusuk-Masar platform.
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States are also expected to complete payment of all 2027 Hajj fares by December 2, 2026.
