Breaking: NAHCON Refunds Tour Operators Over Unavailable 2026 Hajj Extra Slots
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has refunded payments made by licensed tour operators who had earlier paid in anticipation of securing additional slots for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Industry sources confirmed that the commission returned the funds after it became clear that the anticipated extra allocations could not be secured.
It was gathered that NAHCON had earlier indicated the possibility of granting additional slots to tour operators beyond their initial allocation.
However, due to the unavailability of the slots, the commission opted to refund operators who had already made payments.
A tour operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development, stating that the refund covered payments made for extra allocations beyond the 69 slots earlier granted to each operator.
“NAHCON has refunded us the money we paid for the 2026 Hajj extra slots above the 69 initially allocated to us,” the operator said.
Despite the refund, operators say the development has created operational challenges, particularly for those who had already made non-refundable travel arrangements.
Another operator explained that many agencies had proceeded to secure flight bookings and hotel reservations in preparation for the expected additional pilgrims.
“The challenge we are facing now is that the flights and hotels we booked are mostly non-refundable. This has placed us in a difficult position with our passengers,” the operator said.
The situation has raised concerns within the private Hajj sector as operators navigate the financial and logistical implications ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage season.
