The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed concern over a sharp reduction in the number of accommodation slots allocated to Nigerian pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj by Saudi authorities, warning that the cut could significantly limit participation next year.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, the commission revealed that only 66,910 accommodation slots were approved for Nigeria on Saudi Arabia’s NUSUK Masar portal, despite the country’s official quota of 95,000 pilgrims.
“The Mashair space reserved for Nigeria’s pilgrims on the NUSUK Masar portal is actually 66,910 slots for the 2026 Hajj. The implication of this is that while 95,000 slots were allocated to Nigeria, the actual number that can participate is 51,513 for states and officials, and 15,397 for licensed tour operators,” the statement read.
According to NAHCON, the reduction serves as a penalty imposed by Saudi authorities following Nigeria’s failure to fully utilise its quota during the 2025 Hajj exercise. Out of the 95,000 slots provided last year, only 59,128 pilgrims participated — 41,218 under the government quota and 18,000 through private tour operators — leaving 35,872 unutilised.
During a meeting with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards on Thursday, the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said allocations for 2026 would be reviewed based on each state’s performance in 2025. “Earlier allocations will be reversed based on each state’s utilisation during the 2025 Hajj,” Elegushi warned, noting that underperforming states would face the greatest reductions.
NAHCON also disclosed that during a virtual meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, it was instructed to allocate a minimum of 2,000 slots to each group of licensed tour operators and ensure they are registered on the NUSUK platform.
NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman, urged all stakeholders to work together to prevent disruptions ahead of the 2026 exercise. “Unity in this assignment is crucial if Hajj 2026 must succeed,” he said, stressing the importance of proper medical screening due to Saudi Arabia’s strict health requirements.
Addressing the rising cost of Hajj driven by foreign exchange volatility, Usman said negotiations were ongoing to reduce charges on some services, such as cargo handling, to ease the financial burden on pilgrims. However, he cautioned against “arbitrary reductions” that could compromise service quality.
A board member representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Adetona Adedeji, also pledged to engage the apex bank on reducing the 2% transaction fee currently charged on pilgrims’ payments.
The meeting further agreed that funds should be remitted to the CBN promptly to benefit from favourable exchange rates, while reminding state boards of the December 21 remittance deadline. NAHCON said it would embark on a nationwide sensitisation campaign to emphasise the importance of early payments.
The commission confirmed that the 2026 Hajj would adopt international aviation luggage standards, allowing each pilgrim two 23kg checked bags and one hand luggage. It also restated Saudi Arabia’s health regulations barring entry to individuals with serious medical conditions, including organ failure, dementia, active cancer, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases.
