By Sandra Kenneth
Saudi Arabia has turned down a request by Nigeria to increase its Hajj allocation for the 2027 pilgrimage, capping the country’s quota at 50,000 pilgrims.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that it had formally petitioned the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for additional slots to accommodate rising demand from state pilgrims’ welfare boards and prospective pilgrims nationwide.
According to NAHCON, Saudi authorities attributed the decision to capacity constraints and structural limitations at the holy sites, emphasizing strict adherence to established national quotas under current operational guidelines.
Reacting to the development, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amb. Ismail Yusuf, acknowledged the disappointment the ruling might cause but noted that all diplomatic and operational avenues had been thoroughly explored.
“We appreciate the deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand the expectations of stakeholders seeking additional slots,” Amb. Yusuf stated. “While every effort was made to secure an upward review, the Saudi authorities have communicated their final position based on operational realities.”
Under the approved breakdown, government-sponsored pilgrims will receive 35,000 slots, while licensed private tour operators will handle the remaining 15,000.
The commission urged state boards and private operators to distribute the allocations transparently and adhere strictly to established operational deadlines. Amb. Yusuf reminded all stakeholders that the firm deadline to upload prospective pilgrims’ biometric data onto the Saudi Nusuk-Masar platform is September 26, 2026, with no extensions permissible under any circumstances. Additionally, states must finalize all Hajj fare payments by December 2, 2026.
To accommodate those unable to secure a slot for the 2027 exercise, NAHCON announced that the registration portal for the 2028 Hajj is now open for applications.
