By Saminu Ibrahim
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed allegations of diversion of 5,000 Hajj 2027 slots, describing the claims as unfounded and driven by commercial interests within the private Hajj tour industry.
The Commission was reacting to a report by THISDAY newspaper titled, “Hajj 2027: Private Operators Demand Probe of Diverted 5,000 Slots,” as well as what it described as a broader campaign of misinformation by some licensed private tour operators.
NAHCON said the allegations had not been supported by evidence showing that the allocation of the disputed slots violated Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations, its guidelines or any established policy governing Hajj operations in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday signed by Shafii Sani Mohammed, Head of the Information and Publications Division, NAHCON.
The Commission said the report relied largely on claims attributed to unnamed “Concerned Private Travel Operators,” making it difficult for the public to assess the identity, credibility or interests of those behind the allegations.
According to NAHCON, Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj is 50,000 slots, comprising 35,000 slots for states and the Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 slots for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators.
It said the 15,000 private-sector slots were allocated to licensed tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies in line with Nigerian regulatory requirements and guidelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Commission added that the companies participating in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations were duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission and licensed by NAHCON after undergoing the required regulatory processes.
It stressed that the companies remained subject to the same compliance requirements, sanctions and disciplinary measures applicable to other licensed operators.
NAHCON said the controversy appeared to be largely commercial, given the competition among hundreds of operators for a limited number of Hajj slots.
The Commission also drew attention to the September 26, 2026 deadline set by Saudi authorities for the uploading of prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data on the Nusuk-Masar platform.
It said the deadline was imposed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and was therefore beyond NAHCON’s power to extend.
The Commission however warned operators who fail to upload their clients’ data, complete registration or remit required funds within the stipulated period that they would bear responsibility for any resulting consequences.
“NAHCON will not tolerate a situation where the spiritual aspirations and hard-earned resources of Nigerian pilgrims are jeopardized by operators who refuse to comply with established procedures,” the Commission said.
It further warned that regulatory sanctions, including suspension, revocation of licences and blacklisting from future Hajj operations, could be imposed on operators found to have breached their obligations.
The Commission urged intending premium pilgrims who registered through private travel agencies to urgently verify their enrolment status and ensure that their biometric and registration details had been successfully uploaded onto the Nusuk platform before the September 26 deadline.
NAHCON said genuine concerns about the allocation process should be pursued through documentary evidence, relevant regulations and established dispute-resolution mechanisms rather than anonymous allegations.
It maintained that, until credible evidence of a breach was presented, claims of slot diversion, manipulation or impropriety remained allegations.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, regulatory compliance and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, saying the integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj administration should be assessed on established facts, compliance with Saudi regulations and measurable outcomes.
