NAHCON debunks alleged 5,000 Hajj slot diversion

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed allegations of diverting 5,000 Hajj slots, describing the claim as misinformation being propagated by a group of licensed private Hajj tour operators.

NAHCON made this known via a statement issued by the Head of Information and Publications Division, Shafii Mohammed, on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The commission’s reaction followed a report titled, “Hajj 2027: Private Operators Demand Probe of Diverted 5,000 Slots,” which Mohammed described as a broader campaign of misinformation on the allocation of 2027 Hajj slots.

Mohammed said while stakeholders have the right to seek clarification on matters affecting the Hajj industry, it was important to distinguish verifiable facts from speculation.

“It is important to separate verifiable facts from speculation, and legitimate concerns from narratives driven by vested commercial interests,” he stated.

Mohammed said NAHCON was aware of what he described as a coordinated campaign built around allegations of Hajj slot diversion.

He said the allegations had not been supported with evidence demonstrating any wrongdoing by the commission.

“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,” the NAHCON spokesperson said.

Mohammed added that the requirements included timelines and digital upload obligations established by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 2027 Hajj exercise.

Mohammed explained that Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj was 50,000 slots.

He said the allocation comprised 35,000 slots for the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while 15,000 slots were reserved for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators.

Mohammed noted that the 15,000 private-sector slots were allocated to duly licensed tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies.

Mohammed said the allocation was carried out in accordance with applicable Nigerian regulatory requirements and guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia.

He further clarified that companies participating in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations were duly incorporated and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and other relevant regulatory agencies.

According to him, the companies undergo applicable regulatory processes and were licensed by NAHCON to operate as Hajj and Umrah tour operators for the 2027 season.

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He said the operators remained subject to the same regulatory framework, compliance obligations, sanctions and disciplinary measures applicable to all licensed operators.

Mohammed said disagreement with NAHCON’s explanation was legitimate, but urged stakeholders to consider the commission’s position on its merits.

“Fairness demands that the Commission’s position be considered on its merits rather than overshadowed by allegations and insinuations,” he added.

He described the controversy as fundamentally commercial, noting that Hajj operations constituted a significant economic enterprise involving hundreds of operators competing for a finite number of slots.

The NAHCON spokesman also drew attention to what he described as the real challenge confronting some operators, particularly the highly digitised and time-sensitive requirements of the Saudi Nusuk-Masar platform.

Mohammed said the Saudi authorities had stipulated that the digital gateway for uploading prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data would close irrevocably on September 26, 2026.

Mohammed stressed that the deadline was a directive of Saudi Arabia and not NAHCON, adding that the commission has no authority to extend it.

He said some operators should instead focus on registering their clients, uploading biometric information, and remitting funds within the stipulated timelines.

“NAHCON 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,” he said.

Mohammed warned that operators who failed to upload their clients’ data or fulfil their contractual obligations before the closure of the Saudi portal would bear full responsibility for the consequences.

“The commission will not hesitate to invoke available regulatory sanctions, including suspension, revocation of licenses, and blacklisting from future Hajj operations where necessary,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed, therefore, advised all intending premium pilgrims who registered through private travel agencies to urgently verify the status of their enrolment.

He urged the pilgrims to ensure that their biometric and registration details had been successfully uploaded onto the Nusuk platform before the September 26, 2026 deadline.