Ibadan – Nigeria will have to work with its existing allocation of 50,000 pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj after Saudi Arabia declined the country’s request for additional slots.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had sought an increase from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah following growing interest among Nigerian Muslims and requests from various state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
However, the Saudi authorities said the request could not be granted because of capacity limitations, infrastructure constraints around the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of adhering to the quotas approved for individual countries.
The development was announced by NAHCON in a statement issued on Thursday.
The commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amb Ismail Yusuf, said he understood the concerns of intending pilgrims and state authorities that had expected an increase in Nigeria’s allocation.
Yusuf said NAHCON had explored diplomatic and operational channels in an attempt to secure more slots but accepted the decision reached by the Saudi authorities.
He stated, “We appreciate the deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand the expectations of states and stakeholders seeking additional slots.”
He also reminded stakeholders that September 26, 2026, remained the final date for submitting the details of prospective pilgrims for the 2027 exercise through the designated Nusuk-Masar platform.
