The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rejected a request by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government for an increase in Nigeria’s allocation for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage.
The decision means Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation will remain at 50,000 slots, comprising 35,000 slots for government pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed tour operators.
The development was disclosed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to NAHCON, the Commission had formally approached the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to seek additional slots following increased demand from prospective Nigerian pilgrims.
The Commission said the request was also made in response to appeals from several State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, which sought higher allocations to enable more Nigerians to participate in the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
However, the Saudi authorities turned down the request, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and the need to maintain strict compliance with approved country quotas under the existing operational framework.
NAHCON Reacts to Saudi Decision
Reacting to the decision, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ismail Yusuf, acknowledged the disappointment the outcome could cause among intending pilgrims, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and other stakeholders who had expected an increase in Nigeria’s allocation.
Yusuf said the Commission recognised the strong spiritual desire among Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and had made efforts to secure additional slots.
“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 consideration.”
NAHCON Issues Deadline for Pilgrim Data
Following the confirmation of the allocation, the NAHCON chairman urged State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, relevant agencies and licensed tour operators to make judicious and transparent use of their approved slots.
He also called on all stakeholders to comply strictly with deadlines established by NAHCON and the Saudi Nusuk platform.
Yusuf specifically reminded stakeholders that the deadline for uploading the data of prospective pilgrims is September 26, 2026.
“Kindly note that the deadline for uploading prospective pilgrims’ data remains September 26, 2026. We urge all partners, state pilgrimage boards, tour operators and representatives to ensure that all required information is submitted before this date, as no extensions will be granted.”
What This Means for Nigerian Pilgrims
With Saudi Arabia declining Nigeria’s request for additional slots, the country’s 2027 Hajj allocation remains capped at 50,000 pilgrims under the current arrangement.
The allocation covers 35,000 government pilgrims and 15,000 pilgrims travelling through licensed tour operators.
NAHCON has therefore directed all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the approved slots are managed transparently and that prospective pilgrims’ information is submitted within the stipulated timeframe.