Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation rises to 60,000 pilgrims

Nigeria’s allocation for the 2027 Hajj has increased by 10,000 places to 60,000 after Saudi Arabia approved additional slots for the country, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said. The commission disclosed the decision in a statement issued by Shafii Mohammed, its head of information and publications. The increase expands the existing allocation of 50,000 pilgrims.

NAHCON said 7,500 of the additional places had been assigned to state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions. The remaining 2,500 slots were allocated to seven lead tour operator companies. The commission’s chairman and chief executive, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, thanked the Federal Government and Saudi authorities for the additional allocation.

He said the slots would be administered transparently and in accordance with Nigerian and Saudi regulations. The announcement follows what NAHCON described as sustained high-level diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. The commission did not provide further details on the discussions that led to the increase.

NAHCON had previously said that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah required biometric data for all intending pilgrims to be uploaded to the designated Nusuk-Masar platform by September 26. The commission is expected to review its operational timetable in light of the additional places, including arrangements for collecting and processing pilgrims’ biometric information. The revised allocation brings the number of Nigerian pilgrims eligible for the 2027 pilgrimage to 60,000.