NAHCON Sets Record Straight: 5,000 Hajj Slots Remain Within 15,000 Private Allocation
The Commission says Nigeria’s 50,000-slot Hajj 2027 quota remains intact, while licensed operators face a September 26 deadline to complete pilgrim data uploads
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has clarified that the 5,000 Hajj 2027 slots at the centre of a recent controversy remain within Nigeria’s approved allocation of 15,000 slots for licensed private Hajj tour operators.
The Commission’s clarification follows a report by THISDAY titled “Hajj 2027: Private Operators Demand Probe of Diverted 5,000 Slots,” in which a group of private travel operators called for an investigation into the allocation.
In a rejoinder, NAHCON said the allegations had not established any breach of Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations, its own guidelines or other rules governing the allocation and operation of Hajj services in Nigeria.
The Commission said Nigeria’s approved Hajj 2027 allocation is 50,000 slots, comprising 35,000 for the states and the Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators.
According to NAHCON, the 15,000 private-sector slots were allocated to duly licensed tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies, in accordance with applicable Nigerian regulatory requirements and the guidelines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Commission said the companies participating in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations are incorporated and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and other relevant government regulatory agencies and have undergone the applicable processes required to operate as Hajj and Umrah tour operators.
It added that the entities remain subject to the same regulatory framework, compliance obligations, sanctions and disciplinary measures applicable to licensed operators.
NAHCON challenges ‘diversion’ allegation
The dispute followed the publication of a report alleging that 5,000 of the 15,000 slots allocated to private operators had been assigned to two companies, leaving more than 500 licensed operators to compete for the remaining allocation.
The operators cited in the report called for disclosure of the identities, ownership and eligibility of the companies involved and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the process.
NAHCON, however, said the allegations were not supported by evidence demonstrating that the allocation breached any applicable rule.
The Commission also noted that the operators quoted in the report were not individually identified, making it difficult to establish their specific standing in relation to the allocation process.
It said disagreement with NAHCON’s explanation of the allocation process was separate from establishing whether any rule had actually been breached.
Saudi deadline puts pressure on operators
NAHCON also drew attention to the time-sensitive requirements for the 2027 Hajj, particularly the digital registration process linked to Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk-Masar platform.
The Commission said the Saudi authorities had set September 26, 2026, as the deadline for uploading prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data, stressing that the deadline was determined by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and could not be extended by NAHCON.
The Commission warned that operators must complete the required registration, biometric uploads and financial obligations within the stipulated timelines.
It said the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims could be affected if operators failed to meet the requirements before the Saudi portal closes.
NAHCON said it was documenting cases of what it described as deliberate misinformation capable of misleading intending pilgrims and undermining confidence in the Hajj administration process.
The Commission warned that operators who fail to fulfil their contractual and regulatory obligations could face sanctions, including suspension, revocation of licences or blacklisting from future Hajj operations.
Operators demand transparency
The controversy was triggered by concerns from private operators over how the 15,000 private-sector slots were distributed.
According to THISDAY, the operators alleged that more than 500 licensed companies were left to share 10,000 places after 5,000 slots were assigned to two companies associated with Kano and Adamawa. They also questioned why the companies were not included in an earlier document released by NAHCON showing the distribution of slots among qualified operators.
The operators said they wanted the allocation process fully disclosed, including the identities and ownership of the companies concerned, and called for an independent review.
NAHCON maintains that the disputed 5,000 slots did not amount to a diversion of Nigeria’s private-sector allocation and that the participating entities are legally recognised and regulated operators.
The Commission has therefore urged intending pilgrims who registered through private travel agencies to verify their enrolment status and ensure that their biometric and registration information has been successfully uploaded before the September 26 deadline.
It said the integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj administration should be assessed through established regulations, documentary evidence and compliance with Saudi requirements rather than unverified allegations.
For NAHCON, the immediate priority remains ensuring that licensed operators meet the requirements for the 2027 pilgrimage and that Nigerian pilgrims are not placed at risk by failures to meet deadlines imposed by the Saudi authorities.
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