The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organization in the Hajj and Umrah sector, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state governors to urgently provide a bailout loan to prevent Nigerian intending pilgrims from missing the 2026 Hajj exercise.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for pre-Hajj preparations and attending the 5th Hajj and Umrah Conference in Jeddah, the organization said the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian Hajj authorities to complete all necessary payments for their allocated slots.
According to the statement, failure to meet the payment deadline could lead to a further reduction of Nigeria’s already downgraded quota from 66,000 to 50,000. For the past two decades, Nigeria’s Hajj quota stood at 95,000.
“The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has given Nigerian Hajj authorities 14 days to make all necessary payments for their allocated slots as done by other countries. The Ministry has warned that non-compliance could lead to a reduction of Nigeria’s quota to 50,000,” the statement read in part.
IHR urged President Tinubu to rally the state governors to immediately approve a loan that would cover their respective allocations and enable the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to meet the Saudi payment deadline.
“Failure to assist will demote Nigeria from one of the major Hajj participating countries, and the country will permanently be placed on a 50,000 quota, as other countries are currently applying for increases,” IHR warned.
The Saudi authorities have set December 21, 2026, as the deadline for payment of Mashaa’ir Camp fees through the Nusuk Wallet, while January 4, 2026, is the final date for all countries to complete payments for camps and other services.
The organization further disclosed that its findings show less than 20,000 intending pilgrims have registered nationwide, putting NAHCON in a difficult financial position.
IHR noted that any loan approved by the state governments would be refunded once pilgrims pay their fares. It attributed the low registration to late and sluggish pre-Hajj preparations and the tendency of intending pilgrims to delay payment until the end of Ramadan.
PR: Adamu Yusuf
