The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has sought an upward review of Nigeria’s Hajj quota from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of ongoing arrangements for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah exercises.
The appeal was made on Wednesday, the 21st of January, 2026, in Abuja during a courtesy visit by officials of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to NAHCON.
The delegation was led by Professor Ghassan Al-Nuaimi and the visit preceded the maiden official trip of the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah to Nigeria.
In a statement released by the commission, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, informed the Saudi team of Nigeria’s preparedness for the 2026 Hajj. He highlighted steps already taken, such as early operational planning, engagement with airlines, securing accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and timely submission of pilgrims’ data before arrival.
“No pilgrim would be allowed to depart Nigeria without complete documentation submitted at least 72 hours before departure, in line with Saudi regulations,” he stated.
Elegushi identified major operational concerns encountered in previous exercises, including the reduction in Hajj slots, limited accommodation spaces, challenges with airlift capacity, and delays in Umrah visa issuance affecting tour operators.
The statement noted that NAHCON formally appealed, “for an increase in Nigeria’s Hajj allocation and Saudi intervention on accommodation placement and airline approvals.”
The commission also expressed concern over persistent visa-related issues, a matter the Saudi delegation reportedly agreed to examine through the appropriate authorities.
The visiting Saudi officials stressed the importance of strict compliance with global Hajj schedules, warning that timely preparation is compulsory and deadline extensions may not be entertained.
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They further drew attention to newly introduced health and safety measures, stressing the need for full compliance with updated medical requirements for intending pilgrims.
Earlier, NAHCON had announced that compulsory medical examinations would be carried out for all registered pilgrims prior to visa processing, adding that individuals found with certain medical conditions would be barred from participating in the 2026 Hajj.
The commission also disclosed plans to curb overstay incidents through biometric data capture and the deployment of a centralised system to track pilgrims.
In a related development, the Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Professor Maitulare, urged the Saudi Ministry to formally recognise the institute, proposing its adoption as a training centre for Hajj administrators and a platform for communicating updated Hajj and Umrah guidelines.
At the meeting, both Nigerian and Saudi officials reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen collaboration towards delivering a smooth, safe, and successful 2026 Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims.