NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has approved 66,910 slots for Nigerian pilgrims to participate in the 2026 Hajj—a significant reduction from previous years.
According to NAHCON, the cutback follows the underutilisation of the 95,000 slots allocated to Nigeria during the 2025 Hajj exercise.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Hajiya Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations.
During a meeting with officials from State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, NAHCON Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, explained that the NUSUK Masar portal, which manages pilgrimage logistics in Saudi Arabia, now reflects a reduced allocation of 66,910 slots for Nigeria.
“The implication of this is that while 95,000 slots were initially allocated, only 66,910 have now been reserved for the 2026 Hajj,” Elegushi said.
He further broke down the distribution:
51,513 slots are allocated to state pilgrims and government officials
15,397 slots are designated for licensed tour operators
Elegushi added that future allocations to each state would be reviewed and adjusted based on how well they utilised their quotas in 2025.
On health requirements, Dr. Saidu Dumbulwa, a NAHCON board member representing the Ministry of Health, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s stricter medical screening protocols for pilgrims.
He noted that individuals with serious medical conditions—including organ failure, psychiatric disorders, dementia, active cancers under treatment, pregnancy, and communicable diseases like tuberculosis—will be barred from entering the Kingdom.
“These measures are designed to reduce the risk of disease transmission, limit mortality, and ease the burden on Saudi healthcare services,” Dumbulwa explained.
To tighten compliance, he said that medical evaluations must now be conducted exclusively by designated hospitals, and only credible officials would be permitted to endorse the health certificates. These endorsements must also be countersigned by the State’s Chief Medical Director to prevent forgery.
“Visa issuance will be directly linked to the verified medical certificates, which will be checked again at the point of entry into Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Any breach of these medical protocols will place collective responsibility on Nigeria.”
NAHCON urged all stakeholders, including state boards and tour operators, to strictly adhere to the updated requirements to ensure a smooth and safe 2026 Hajj for all Nigerian pilgrims.
