EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Set to Grant Nigeria Additional 2027 Hajj Slots
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabia is set to grant Nigeria additional slots for the 2027 Hajj following renewed engagements by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), other stakeholders and rising demand from intending pilgrims.
The additional allocation could give thousands of Nigerian Muslims who missed the September 26 registration deadline another opportunity to secure places for the pilgrimage. However, neither the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah nor NAHCON has officially announced the new allocation.
Hajj Gazette gathered from sources familiar with the ongoing engagements that the Saudi authorities have reconsidered Nigeria’s request for additional allocation amid sustained pressure for more slots.
The development comes less than two weeks after NAHCON announced that Saudi Arabia had declined Nigeria’s request to increase the country’s 2027 allocation, leaving Nigeria with 50,000 approved slots.
The original allocation comprised 35,000 slots for government-sponsored pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed private Hajj operators.
NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, had subsequently clarified that the September 26 deadline was linked to the exhaustion of Nigeria’s available allocation.
He assured stakeholders that the Commission was continuing its engagement with the Saudi authorities and that registration and data upload could resume if additional slots were granted.
EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Set to Grant Nigeria Additional 2027 Hajj Slots
The latest development, if formally confirmed, would therefore reopen a pathway for intending pilgrims who missed out after the initial allocation was exhausted.
It could also require NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to establish a fresh registration and allocation process for the additional beneficiaries, including verification of payments, documentation and pilgrim data before submission through the relevant Saudi systems.
The potential additional allocation comes amid strong demand across several states. In Sokoto, for instance, the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency said it had registered 2,758 intending pilgrims, representing the full allocation approved for the state.
NAHCON had earlier said its request for additional slots was prompted by growing demand from State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and intending pilgrims nationwide.
However, until the reported additional allocation is formally communicated by the Saudi authorities and acknowledged by NAHCON, prospective pilgrims have been advised to rely only on official information and avoid making payments to individuals or operators claiming to have access to additional slots.
NAHCON had previously warned against unauthorised requests for money in exchange for guaranteed 2027 Hajj slots.
If confirmed, the development would mark a significant change from the position announced earlier this month and could trigger a new phase of registration for Nigerian pilgrims seeking places for the 2027 pilgrimage.
Hajj Gazette will continue to monitor the development and publish the official confirmation once it is issued.
