Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation has increased from 50,000 to 60,000 pilgrims after Saudi Arabia approved an additional 10,000 slots for the country.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria disclosed this in a statement by its Head, Information and Publications Division, Shafii Mohammed, on Thursday.

The commission said 7,500 of the additional slots were allocated to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, while 2,500 were given to seven lead tour operator companies.

NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, thanked the Federal Government and Saudi authorities for the additional allocation, saying the slots would be administered transparently and in line with Nigerian and Saudi regulations.

The statement read, “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria is pleased to announce that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has approved an additional 10,000 Hajj slots for Nigeria for the 2027 Hajj, following sustained high-level diplomatic engagements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The additional allocation brings Nigeria’s total Hajj allocation for the 2027 pilgrimage from 50,000 to 60,000 slots. For clarity, the 10,000 additional slots have been distributed as follows: 7,500 slots to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions; and 2,500 slots to the seven (7) lead Tour Operator companies.

“Accordingly, the additional 10,000 slots represent an expansion of Nigeria’s existing 50,000-slot allocation, bringing the overall national allocation for the 2027 Hajj to 60,000 pilgrims.”

NAHCON had also announced that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah required the biometric data of all intending pilgrims to be uploaded to the designated Nusuk-Masar platform by September 26.

The commission is expected to review its operational timetable following the additional allocation, including arrangements relating to the processing of pilgrims’ biometric data.