The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has raised concern over the drastic reduction in Nigeria’s Hajj quota for the 2026 pilgrimage exercise.
In a statement issued on Thursday titled “NAHCON, States Discuss Hajj Costing and Other Critical Issues; Ministry Briefs NAHCON on Tour Operators,” the commission revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah approved only 66,910 accommodation slots for Nigerian pilgrims on the NUSUK Masar portal, despite the country’s official allocation of 95,000.
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According to the statement signed by the commission’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, the new allocation marks a significant drop from previous years. Of the total slots, 51,513 are reserved for state pilgrims and government delegations, while 15,397 are for licensed private tour operators.
NAHCON explained that the reduction followed Nigeria’s underutilization of its 2025 quota, when only about 59,128 of the 95,000 available slots were used, leaving 35,872 unclaimed.
The commission added that future allocations to states would now depend on their performance in the previous exercise, warning that unutilized slots could be reallocated to other states or tour operators.
For 2026, each group of licensed tour operators will receive a minimum of 2,000 slots and must register on Saudi Arabia’s NUSUK platform before participating.
NAHCON also announced stricter medical screening measures for intending pilgrims, noting that individuals with certain health conditions would not be allowed entry into Saudi Arabia.
In its effort to make the pilgrimage more affordable, the commission said discussions were ongoing with service providers to reduce some cost components particularly cargo handling charges without compromising the quality of services.
Intending pilgrims have been advised to complete their payments before the December 21 deadline, while a nationwide sensitization campaign will be launched to create awareness on the new timelines and guidelines.
The commission further stated that international aviation luggage standards will apply for the next Hajj, allowing each pilgrim to travel with two 23kg checked bags and one hand luggage.
