Saudi Arabia raises Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation to 60,000

Saudi Arabia has approved an additional 10,000 Hajj places for Nigeria for the 2027 pilgrimage, raising the country’s total allocation to 60,000, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Thursday. The commission’s information and publications division head, Shafii Mohammed, disclosed the decision in a statement issued in Abuja. He said the increase followed sustained diplomatic engagement between the Nigerian government and Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria’s existing quota was 50,000 places. Of the additional allocation, 7,500 places have been assigned to state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, according to NAHCON. The remaining 2,500 places will be allocated to seven lead private tour operator companies.

The commission did not provide further details on the distribution among individual states or operators. NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Isma’il Yusuf thanked the Nigerian government and Saudi authorities for the decision, describing it as a gesture of goodwill towards Nigeria and its pilgrims. Yusuf said the additional places reflected the continuing relationship and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia over the organisation of Hajj.

He pledged that the allocation would be administered transparently and in line with Nigerian and Saudi regulations. He also said NAHCON would work with state pilgrimage authorities and licensed operators to administer the new allocation. The commission, he added, remained committed to making Hajj accessible while maintaining standards for service delivery, accountability and regulatory compliance.