2027 Hajj: Why States Are Pushing for Early Passport Submission – Gombe ES
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
State pilgrims’ welfare boards are pushing intending pilgrims to submit their international passports early for the 2027 Hajj to help Nigeria secure its allocation and prevent pilgrims from losing their seats, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Sa’adu Hassan, has said.
Hassan said Saudi Arabia had indicated that Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj quota would be influenced by the number of pilgrims whose passports are uploaded on its digital platform, alongside registration and initial deposits.
He explained that payment of the required initial deposit alone would not guarantee a pilgrim’s participation in the pilgrimage, stressing that intending pilgrims must also submit their passports promptly.
According to him, the requirement has become necessary to avoid challenges experienced during the 2026 Hajj, when some intending pilgrims paid their deposits early but failed to travel because they submitted their passports late.
“The initial deposit and registration are not enough. All intending pilgrims must submit their passports at the point of their initial deposit payment,” Hassan said.
He said early passport submission would enable the relevant authorities to capture pilgrims’ information on the Saudi digital platform within the required timeline and strengthen Nigeria’s position when additional Hajj slots are considered.
2027 Hajj: Why States Are Pushing for Early Passport Submission – Gombe ES
Hassan urged intending pilgrims not to delay the submission of their passports after making their initial payments, warning that late compliance could affect their chances of travelling.
He said state pilgrims’ welfare boards were therefore prioritising early passport collection and submission as part of their preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage.
The Executive Secretary stressed that the experience of the 2026 Hajj demonstrated the risks associated with delayed documentation, as some pilgrims who had completed payment could not proceed with the journey because their passports were not submitted on time.
He said the early submission drive would give authorities sufficient time to identify documentation gaps, upload pilgrims’ details and address issues before the commencement of airlift.
Hassan urged intending pilgrims to treat passport submission as an essential part of the registration process rather than a routine administrative requirement.
He said timely compliance would help protect pilgrims’ seats while supporting Nigeria’s efforts to maximise its 2027 Hajj allocation.
