The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has secured an additional 10,000 pilgrimage slots for Nigerians ahead of the 2027 Hajj following further engagements with Saudi Arabian authorities.
A senior NAHCON official disclosed the development, saying the additional allocation was secured after the Federal Government intensified diplomatic efforts to increase Nigeria’s initial quota.
The new arrangement will raise Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation from 50,000 to 60,000 pilgrims, subject to the completion of necessary arrangements by the relevant authorities.
The official said the additional slots followed interventions involving the Presidency, Office of the Vice President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh and NAHCON.
Saudi authorities had earlier turned down Nigeria’s request for a larger quota, citing capacity limitations, restrictions around the holy sites and the existing allocation framework for participating countries.
Following the initial decision, Nigeria was allocated 50,000 places, consisting of 35,000 slots for government-sponsored pilgrims and 15,000 reserved for licensed private Hajj operators.
According to the NAHCON official, continued discussions with the Saudi authorities eventually resulted in approval for Nigeria to receive another 10,000 places.
The increase is expected to ease the pressure on prospective pilgrims who faced limited opportunities under the initial allocation.
NAHCON had previously set September 26, 2026, as the deadline for submitting prospective pilgrims’ information through Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk-Masar platform. At the time, the commission had indicated that the deadline would not be extended.
The additional allocation, however, is expected to require adjustments to the registration and data-upload process to accommodate the newly approved pilgrims.
NAHCON is expected to release further details on the revised arrangements and timelines to state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards, relevant government agencies, licensed tour operators and other stakeholders.
The commission will also have to determine how the additional slots will be distributed and processed ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage.
The latest development follows increased demand for Hajj slots among Nigerians and the Federal Government’s continued efforts to secure a larger allocation from Saudi Arabia.
Attention will now turn to the implementation of the additional quota and the process for registering and processing the extra 10,000 pilgrims.
2027 Hajj: Nigeria’s Allocation Increased to 60,000 Pilgrims
