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

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 utilisation during the 2025 Hajj as well.

NAHCON yesterday convened a high-stakes consultative meeting with state executives in Abuja to address preparations for the 2026 Hajj and the mandated reduction of the pilgrimage fare, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In his opening address, the Chairman/CEO, Alhaji Abdullahi Saleh Usman, stressed the imperative of unity between the states and NAHCON in managing the 2026 operations.

He assured state officials of the commission’s full support and cooperation.

Elegushi disclosed that the commission’s management had been summoned to the Vice President’s office and explicitly instructed to review and reduce the 2026 Hajj fare.

“Therefore, NAHCON saw the importance of also summoning the states to do it together for the betterment of the Nigerian pilgrims,” Elegushi stated.

The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar was cited as a primary factor in the deliberations on calculating the new reduced fare. A final, definitive Hajj fare is expected to be announced later, pending clearance from the Vice President’s office. The meeting also provided state officials the opportunity to select their service companies for the coming year.

The meeting also saw the introduction of new, stringent medical policies from the Saudi Ministry of Health, delivered by the representative from Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, Dr Saidu.