The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reduced the 95,000 slot given to Nigeria to 66,910, with effect from 2026.

Daily Trust reports that Nigeria maintained the previous slot for three years.

According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the slash was due to the inability of Nigeria to utilise the previous slot during the 2024 and 2025 hajj.

The statement signed by NAHCON’s Deputy Director Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, said this means earlier seat allocation to states will change and be based on the number of pilgrims they ferried for the 2025 hajj.

“The Mashair space reserved for Nigeria’s pilgrims on the NUSUK Masar portal is actually 66,910 slots for the 2026 Hajj. The implication of this is that while 95,000 slots were allocated to Nigeria, the actual number that can participate in the 2026 Hajj is 66,910. It was revealed that Saudi Arabia reduced Nigeria’s camp slots to this figure on the portal due to underutilization of slots in the previous year.”

She stated that the information was disclosed following a meeting between NAHCON and states to discuss Hajj Costing and Other Critical Issues.

Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said earlier allocations would be reversed based on each state’s utilization during the 2025 Hajj as well.

“In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, called for unity in this assignment for Nigeria’s Hajj operations to succeed again in 2026. The Chairman reiterated and appealed to State Executive Secretaries to take the issue of medical screening seriously due to the seriousness that Saudi Arabia attaches to it.”

During the meeting, NAHCON disclosed that efforts were ongoing to negotiate reductions in certain cost components such as cargo handling charges, in order to ease the financial burden on intending pilgrims.

Anafi, however, emphasized that service providers’ rates would not be arbitrarily reduced, since that may affect services that pilgrims are expected to receive.

“A separate engagement was recommended for Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce its charges on pilgrims. The Board Member representing CBN in NAHCON Dr. Adetona Sikiru Adedeji, at the meeting pledged to convey NAHCON ‘s request to CBN on the possibility of reducing the 2% charge imposed on pilgrims’ transactions.”

The Commission further requested States to submit the number of registered pilgrims to confirm if it is in line with NAHCON’s projections of pilgrims registration. (Daily Trust)