The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has instructed State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to immediately refund intending pilgrims who could not be captured for the 2026 Hajj, as Saudi Arabia’s visa deadline draws closer.
The directive was issued at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Commission’s headquarters, Hajj House, Abuja. The meeting brought together commissioners, board members, executive secretaries, chairmen of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, members of the Forum of State Executive Secretaries, the Medical Mission team and other management staff.
In a statement released on Monday, NAHCON said its newly appointed Chairman, Ismail Yusuf, clarified that Nigeria was not specifically targeted in the reduction of Hajj slots for 2026.
According to him, the adjustment is part of a broader global review affecting several countries due to logistical capacity and evolving regulations introduced by Saudi authorities.
“Nigeria was not singled out. Nigeria’s allocation for the 2026 Hajj stands at 40,250 pilgrims, excluding tour operators. However, uploaded data from states reportedly exceeded the approved figure,” Yusuf explained.
He urged state officials to correct public misconceptions about the quota reduction and to urgently reconcile their data by removing excess entries to avoid operational challenges.
Visa Deadline and Data Reconciliation
Yusuf also disclosed that Saudi authorities have fixed a firm visa deadline of 1st Shawwal, with no indication that it will be extended. He warned that failure to meet the timeline could prevent qualified pilgrims from performing the Hajj.
To avoid such setbacks, he directed state boards to quickly conclude medical screenings, documentation and data uploads within the approved operational window to enable timely visa processing.
NAHCON further cautioned states against substituting names on flight manifests, noting that airline bookings are now digitally linked with accommodation systems, making last-minute changes difficult and disruptive.
Tougher Health Measures
On health requirements, Board Member representing the Federal Ministry of Health, Said Dumbulwa, informed stakeholders of stricter certification guidelines.
He stressed that Hajj medical screenings must be conducted only at government-recognised hospitals. Certificates must include the Medical and Dental Council registration numbers of attending doctors and be digitally uploaded for verification. Private hospitals, he said, are not authorised to conduct Hajj medical certification.
In a move to ease financial pressure on pilgrims, NAHCON announced a reduction in the Yellow Card fee from ₦5,000 to ₦2,000 for the 2026 Hajj, following discussions with relevant health authorities.
The Commission added that Port Health Services would directly supervise the issuance and authentication of vaccination certificates, as Saudi Arabia introduces stricter measures, including biometric verification.
Airline Monitoring, Refund Directive
NAHCON also warned that it would closely monitor airline performance during the pilgrimage. Underperforming carriers risk having their allocated pilgrims reassigned to more efficient airlines.
Most notably, Yusuf directed states to promptly refund pilgrims who would not be travelling, in order to prevent disputes and maintain public confidence in the Hajj process.
The Commission revealed plans to deploy monitoring teams to Saudi Arabia to assess feeding, accommodation, sanitation and overall service delivery. It added that top-performing states may be recognised nationally, while non-compliance could attract sanctions.
Yusuf reaffirmed that State Pilgrims Welfare Boards remain the primary custodians of intending pilgrims, while NAHCON’s role is strictly regulatory, stressing the need for unity, professionalism and collective responsibility to ensure a smooth and successful 2026 Hajj exercise.
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