Hajj 2027: NAHCON warns operators against misinformation over slot allocation

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has warned licensed private Hajj tour operators against spreading what it described as misinformation over the allocation of slots for the 2027 Hajj exercise.

NAHCON, in a rejoinder signed by the Head of Information and Publications Division, Shafii Sani Mohammed on Saturday, said allegations of diversion of 5,000 Hajj slots were unfounded, noting that no evidence had been presented to show that the allocation violated Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations or the commission’s guidelines.

The commission explained that Nigeria’s 50,000 approved slots comprised 35,000 allocated to the states and the Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies.

It also urged operators with concerns over the allocation process to rely on facts, regulations and established dispute-resolution mechanisms rather than anonymous allegations.

NAHCON stated, “The Commission is aware of a coordinated and diversionary campaign built around entirely unfounded allegations of Hajj slot diversion. Rather than presenting evidence of wrongdoing, the allegations appear designed to shift attention away from the inability of certain operators to comply with the strict regulatory requirements, timelines, and digital upload obligations established by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 2027 Hajj exercise.

“It is noteworthy that the report itself is built almost entirely on claims made by unnamed individuals described as Concerned Private Travel Operators. Readers are not informed who these operators are, whether they are established stakeholders, unsuccessful applicants, competing companies, or parties whose commercial interests may have been affected by the current allocation framework. The anonymity of the accusers makes it impossible for the public to properly assess their credibility, standing, or motives.

“More importantly, despite the sensational nature of the allegations, no evidence whatsoever has been presented to establish that any illegality occurred. At no point has it been demonstrated that the allocation of the disputed 5,000 slots violated Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations, NAHCON guidelines, or any policy governing Hajj operations in Nigeria. The concerns raised are largely framed around perceptions and commercial grievances rather than documented breaches of established rules or procedures.

“Indeed, the report itself acknowledges that NAHCON provided a clear explanation regarding the allocation process. The Commission clarified that Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj is 50,000 slots, comprising 35,000 slots for the states and the Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 slots for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators.

“The 15,000 private-sector slots were allocated to duly licensed tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies, in accordance with applicable Nigerian regulatory requirements and the guidelines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

NAHCON said all companies participating in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations were duly registered, licensed and subject to the commission’s regulatory requirements and sanctions.

The commission described the controversy over the slots as largely commercial, urging stakeholders to rely on facts and regulations rather than allegations.

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The commission added, “The Commission further wishes to draw public attention to the real challenge confronting some operators: the highly digitised and time-sensitive requirements of the Saudi Nusuk-Masar platform. The Saudi authorities have made it explicitly clear that the digital gateway for uploading prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data closes irrevocably on September 26, 2026. This deadline is a directive of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and not of NAHCON. The Commission has no authority whatsoever to extend it by even a minute.

“Unfortunately, rather than expediting the registration of their clients, uploading biometric information, and remitting funds within the stipulated timelines, some operators have chosen to devote considerable energy to fabricating conspiracy theories and promoting narratives intended to conceal their own operational deficiencies.

“The Commission will not tolerate a situation where the spiritual aspirations and hard-earned resources of Nigerian pilgrims are jeopardised by operators who refuse to comply with established procedures. The welfare of pilgrims remains paramount, and all licensed operators are expected to meet their obligations within the timelines prescribed by Saudi authorities.

“NAHCON is currently documenting instances of deliberate misinformation and diversionary tactics capable of misleading intending pilgrims and undermining confidence in the Hajj administration process. Operators who fail to upload their clients’ data or fulfil their contractual obligations before the closure of the Saudi portal will bear full responsibility for the consequences of such failures.”

NAHCON said it would impose sanctions, including suspension, licence revocation and blacklisting, on defaulting operators where necessary.

The commission also urged intending pilgrims registered through private agencies to confirm that their biometric and registration details had been uploaded to the Nusuk platform before the September 26, 2026 deadline.

The statement read in part, “It is also important to recognise that controversies of this nature rarely end with a single publication. Where significant commercial interests are involved, campaigns through media reports, petitions, lobbying efforts, and public pressure are often deployed in attempts to reverse administrative decisions or preserve existing advantages. Such tactics are not uncommon in sectors where economic stakes are high. However, resistance to change should not be mistaken for evidence of wrongdoing.

“If there are genuine concerns regarding any aspect of the allocation process, such concerns should be addressed through facts, regulations, documentary evidence, and established dispute-resolution mechanisms—not through anonymous allegations, conjecture, and attempts at public blackmail.

“The Nigerian public deserves a conversation anchored on transparency, regulatory compliance, and verifiable facts rather than assumptions and commercial anxieties. Until credible evidence is presented demonstrating that any rule was breached, claims of diversion, manipulation, or impropriety remain allegations and nothing more.”

Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj quota remains 50,000 pilgrims, with 35,000 slots for government pilgrims and 15,000 for licensed tour operators.

NAHCON said all intending pilgrims’ biometric details must be uploaded to the Nusuk-Masar platform by September 26, 2026, while states are expected to complete Hajj fare payments by December 2, 2026.