NAHCON Calls for Calm as Saudi Portal Closure Threatens 2026 Hajj Participation
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has appealed for calm among intending pilgrims following concerns that hundreds of state-registered pilgrims may miss the 2026 Hajj due to the closure of Saudi’s data capture portal.
In a statement issued by Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, the Commission assured affected pilgrims that necessary updates would be communicated while efforts continue to manage the situation within regulatory constraints.
NAHCON recalled that after Nigeria’s Hajj quota was reduced to 50,000, it convened a strategic meeting with state officials and formally cancelled earlier seat allocations.
The Commission subsequently adopted a first-come, first-served policy strictly based on confirmed remittances to ensure transparency and compliance.
Following the directive, several State Pilgrims Welfare Boards mobilized resources and made payments accordingly.
Camp bookings were then allocated to states that completed remittances on or before January 2, the officially communicated deadline.
The Commission disclosed that a few states, including Kaduna State and Niger State, later received limited additional allocations.
These adjustments were facilitated through internal reallocation from states that had remitted excess payments.
NAHCON emphasized that it had consistently warned against late registration, stressing that Saudi authorities would strictly enforce operational deadlines.
Although the Commission later sought additional Hajj slots to accommodate more pilgrims, approval for the extra spaces was granted after Saudi Arabia’s critical Hajj portals had already closed.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to due process and international compliance, urging pilgrims who completed payments after the deadline to remain patient while diplomatic and administrative engagements continue.
NAHCON maintained that safeguarding Nigeria’s Hajj operations within Saudi regulatory frameworks remains its top priority, assuring stakeholders of transparent communication as developments unfold.
