A faith-based civil society organization, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has issued a pressing appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria's 36 state governors. The group is urging immediate financial intervention to prevent thousands of Nigerian intending pilgrims from being excluded from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Looming Quota Reduction and Tight Deadlines
The IHR, in a statement from its national coordinator Ibrahim Muhammad at the Hajj conference in Jeddah, revealed a critical situation. For the first time in two decades, Nigeria's Hajj quota has been slashed from 95,000 to 66,000. A further reduction to 50,000 is imminent if the country fails to meet payment requirements set by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The Saudi authorities have given Nigerian Hajj authorities a strict two-week deadline to complete all necessary payments for its allocated slots. The IHR warned that failure to comply will not only reduce Nigeria's quota but could permanently demote the country's status among major Hajj-participating nations.
The Proposed Financial Solution
The civil society group proposes that state governments approve loan facilities for their State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards. Any amount approved as a loan would be refunded immediately after pilgrims pay their fares, ensuring no permanent financial loss to state governments.
The IHR emphasized that the funds must be made available to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) promptly to meet the tight payment schedule. The situation is particularly urgent given that nationwide pilgrim registrations currently fall below 20,000, putting NAHCON in a difficult position.
Critical Timeline and Registration Crisis
The Saudi Ministry has set December 21, 2025, as the deadline for Mashaa'ir Camp fees payment on the Nusuk Wallet platform. Another crucial deadline of January 4, 2026, requires all Hajj-participating countries to finalize payments for camps and services.
The IHR noted that Nigeria's traditional pattern of late Hajj preparations contributes to the current crisis. The "save 2026 Hajj appeal" becomes necessary due to severe time constraints and the Saudi authorities' strict directive that no extensions will be granted for the December registration deadline.
The group had initially raised this concern in October, but with deadlines approaching rapidly, immediate action from both federal and state governments is crucial to secure Nigeria's participation in the 2026 Hajj.
