Saudi Arabia has reduced Nigeria’s Hajj quota for 2026 to 66,910, citing the country’s failure to fully utilise its 95,000 slots during the 2025 exercise.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday signed by its Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara.
NAHCON said the revised allocation was reflected on the NUSUK Masar portal by Saudi authorities and announced by Anofiu Elegushi, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, during a meeting with state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
According to the statement, 51,513 slots have been reserved for state pilgrims and officials, while 15,397 will go to licensed tour operators.
It added that state allocations for the 2026 Hajj would be determined by the level of slot utilisation recorded in 2025.
NAHCON also announced new health regulations for intending pilgrims introduced by Saudi authorities.
Saidu Dumbulwa, a board member representing the Federal Ministry of Health, said individuals with organ failure, psychiatric or neurological disorders, dementia, pregnancy, tuberculosis, active cancer, or other communicable diseases would not be allowed entry into the kingdom.
He said the measures were aimed at reducing health risks and easing pressure on Saudi Arabia’s medical system during the pilgrimage.
Dumbulwa added that medical screenings would now be conducted only in designated hospitals and that medical certificates must be verified and countersigned by each state’s Chief Medical Director.
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He said visa issuance would be tied to verified medical certificates, warning that any violation of the health rules could hold Nigeria collectively accountable.
In a related development, NAHCON Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Aliu AbdulRazak, said the commission had secured approval to remit state funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria more frequently to take advantage of favourable exchange rates.
He added that NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, approved the move, while the CBN representative on the commission’s board, Adetona Adedeji, said the request for a reduction in the two percent charge on pilgrims’ transactions would be presented to the apex bank.
Usman said the commission was also negotiating lower service costs, including cargo handling, to ease the financial burden on Nigerian pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj.