The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has denied allegations of diverting 5,000 slots allocated for the 2027 Hajj, describing the claims as unfounded and driven by commercial interests within the private Hajj 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 Hajj tour operators over the allocation of slots for the 2027 pilgrimage.
In a statement signed by Shafii Sani Mohammed, Head of Information and Publications Division, NAHCON said stakeholders had the right to seek clarification on issues affecting the Hajj industry, but stressed that allegations should be distinguished from verifiable facts and documentary evidence.
The commission said there was no evidence to establish that the allocation of the disputed 5,000 slots violated either Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations, NAHCON guidelines or any established policy governing Hajj operations in Nigeria.
According to NAHCON, the allegations were largely based on perceptions and commercial grievances rather than documented breaches of regulatory procedures.
It also questioned the reliance of the THISDAY report on statements attributed to unnamed “Concerned Private Travel Operators”.
The commission said the identities, regulatory status and commercial interests of the individuals behind the allegations were not disclosed, making it difficult for the public to assess the credibility or motives of the claims.
NAHCON said Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj stands at 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 explained that the 15,000 private-sector slots were allocated to duly licensed tour operators operating under seven approved lead companies.
The arrangement, it said, was made in accordance with Nigerian regulatory requirements and the guidelines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The commission further said the companies participating in the 2027 Hajj and Umrah operations were duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission and registered with other relevant government regulatory agencies.
According to the statement, the companies had also undergone the applicable regulatory processes and obtained NAHCON licences to operate Hajj and Umrah tour services for the 2027 season.
It added that the companies remained subject to the same regulatory requirements, compliance obligations, sanctions and disciplinary measures applicable to all licensed operators.
“Whether some stakeholders agree with NAHCON’s explanation is a separate matter; however, fairness demands that the Commission’s position be considered on its merits rather than overshadowed by allegations and insinuations,” the commission said.
NAHCON said the controversy surrounding the allocation appeared to be largely commercial, given the competition among hundreds of operators for a limited number of Hajj slots.
It argued that changes in allocation structures, the emergence of new entrants and adjustments to existing arrangements could naturally generate disagreements among operators whose commercial interests were affected.
The commission, however, said the immediate challenge facing some operators was not the allocation of slots but compliance with the increasingly digitalised and time-sensitive requirements imposed by the Saudi authorities.
It specifically drew attention to the Nusuk-Masar platform, saying the Saudi authorities had fixed September 26, 2026 as the deadline for uploading prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data.
NAHCON stressed that the deadline was set by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and was therefore beyond the commission’s power to extend.
“The Commission has no authority whatsoever to extend it by even a minute,” it said.
According to NAHCON, some operators were yet to complete the required registration, biometric upload and financial remittance processes within the prescribed timelines.
The commission accused such operators of focusing on allegations of slot diversion instead of expediting the registration and documentation of their clients.
It warned that the failure of operators to comply with the Saudi requirements could jeopardise the participation of Nigerian pilgrims in the 2027 Hajj.