Saudi Arabia has turned down Nigeria’s request for additional slots for the 2027 Hajj, leaving the country with an approved allocation of 50,000 pilgrims for next year’s pilgrimage.
The decision followed an appeal by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for an upward review of Nigeria’s quota in response to increased demand from intending pilgrims and requests from state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
The Saudi authorities reportedly based their decision on capacity constraints, limitations at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of maintaining the quotas already approved for participating countries.
The development was contained in a statement issued by NAHCON on Thursday.
Reacting to the decision, the commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amb Ismail Yusuf, acknowledged the disappointment it could cause intending pilgrims and state authorities that had hoped for additional spaces.
Yusuf said the commission had pursued available diplomatic and operational channels to secure an increased allocation but would respect the final position of the Saudi authorities.
He said, “We appreciate the deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand the expectations of states and stakeholders seeking additional slots.”
The NAHCON boss urged state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and licensed tour operators to use their allocations transparently and responsibly while adhering to deadlines set by the commission and the Saudi Nusuk platform.
He specifically warned that the September 26, 2026 deadline for uploading the details of prospective 2027 pilgrims remained sacrosanct, stressing that there would be no extension.
According to him, Nigerians who could not obtain slots for the 2027 pilgrimage could register for the 2028 Hajj, as NAHCON had already opened the registration portal for the subsequent exercise.
The commission said preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage were progressing, adding that further information on operational guidelines and the new business-to-business framework would be communicated through its official channels.
Under the approved arrangement, 35,000 of Nigeria’s 50,000 slots are allocated to government pilgrims, while 15,000 are reserved for licensed tour operators.
NAHCON also said all states were expected to complete payment of the 2027 Hajj fares by December 2, 2026, while biometric details of intending pilgrims must be uploaded on the designated Nusuk-Masar platform before the September 26 deadline.
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