National Hajj Commission of Nigeria confirms Saudi Arabia cut 2026 Hajj slots to 66,910, leaving over 25,000 intending pilgrims stranded

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has raised alarm over Saudi Arabia’s decision to reduce Nigeria’s approved quota for the 2026 Hajj, a move that could prevent more than 25,000 intending pilgrims from performing the sacred exercise.

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In a statement titled “NAHCON, States Discuss Hajj Costing and Other Critical Issues; Ministry Briefs NAHCON on Tour Operators”, the Commission disclosed that the kingdom has confirmed only 66,910 slots for Nigerian pilgrims on its NUSUK Masar portal — a sharp drop from the 95,000 spaces originally allocated.

The development, NAHCON said, poses serious logistical and financial challenges for state pilgrim boards and licensed tour operators, who must now drastically revise their plans.

A breakdown of the allocation shows that 51,513 slots are reserved for state contingents and government officials, while 15,397 are designated for licensed private operators.

This leaves a deficit of 28,090, effectively cutting off thousands of intending pilgrims from participating.

According to NAHCON, the reduction was imposed as a penalty by Saudi authorities for Nigeria’s failure to fully utilise its 2025 quota.

Although 95,000 spaces were approved for last year’s Hajj, only about 59,128 pilgrims made the trip — comprising 41,218 under the government quota and 18,000 through private operators — leaving 35,872 slots unused.

The Commission warned that the new cap would severely affect planning and cost projections, as states and operators will have to recalibrate their logistics around the reduced quota.

Discussions, it added, are already underway with state pilgrim boards and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj Affairs to mitigate the impact of the cut and explore the possibility of restoring part of the lost slots.

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NAHCON assured intending pilgrims that it remains committed to a fair and transparent allocation process, while urging patience as consultations continue.