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Nigeria’s allocation for the 2027 Hajj 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 issued on Thursday by its Head of Information and Publications Division, Shafii Mohammed.
According to the commission, 7,500 of the additional slots were allocated to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, while 2,500 were allocated to seven lead tour operator companies.
The NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, thanked the Nigerian Government and Saudi authorities for the additional allocation.
He said the additional slots would be administered transparently and in line with Nigerian and Saudi regulations.
The commission said the additional allocation followed sustained diplomatic engagements between the Nigerian Government and Saudi Arabia.
Credit: Guardian
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.
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“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 earlier 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 for processing pilgrims’ biometric data.
