2027 Hajj: Gombe Remits N9.5bn to NAHCON for 1,417 Pilgrims
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Gombe State Pilgrims Welfare Board has remitted N9.5 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for 1,417 intending pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj, exceeding the state’s initial allocation of 987 seats.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Malam Sa’adu Hassan, disclosed this on Monday while speaking during a sensitisation visit by a delegation of NAHCON led by the Commissioner in charge of the North-East Zone, Malam Abba Jato.
He said the state’s early preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage enabled it to mobilise intending pilgrims and secure payments ahead of schedule, resulting in the exhaustion of its initial allocation.
According to him, the board has already paid for 1,417 pilgrims, representing 430 seats above its initial allocation of 987, and is now seeking additional slots from NAHCON to accommodate the growing number of intending pilgrims.
He said the state could require at least 500 additional seats, taking into account other sponsored slots and the number of pilgrims who have completed payments and registration.
The official expressed confidence that NAHCON would approve additional seats for Gombe, citing assurances from the Commission’s leadership that states demonstrating early preparedness and compliance would receive support.
2027 Hajj: Gombe Remits N9.5bn to NAHCON for 1,417 Pilgrims
He said the board’s early mobilisation also meant that the state would not need to rely on government borrowing to finance advance Hajj payments this year.
He recalled that the Gombe State Government had previously intervened with a loan to enable the state make advance payments when the payment requirements were announced late, saying the situation had changed because preparations for the 2027 Hajj began immediately after the return from the 2026 pilgrimage.
Speaking separately, the NAHCON Commissioner for the North-East commended Gombe for its early preparations, saying the state had paid for all its registered pilgrims and even exceeded its initial allocation.
He assured the state that the Commission would consider its request for additional seats.
The Commissioner also said the visit was aimed at sensitising pilgrims and state authorities on new Saudi Arabian Hajj policies, including the transition towards a business-to-business model that will increasingly place pilgrimage operations in the hands of licensed private tour operators.
He said Nigeria had secured a three-year transition period to prepare stakeholders for the new system.
The Commissioner further warned states to comply strictly with Saudi health requirements, stressing that non-compliance could attract sanctions.
