Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organization in the Hajj and Umrah sector, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors to provide an urgent loan facility to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to save Nigerian intending pilgrims from missing the 2026 Hajj.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, currently in Saudi Arabia for pre-Hajj activities and the 5th Hajj and Umrah Conference in Jeddah, IHR said the intervention was necessary to prevent Nigeria from losing its current Hajj quota.
According to the group, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has given Nigeria two weeks to make full payment for its allocated 66,000 slots, warning that failure to comply could result in a further reduction of the quota to 50,000.
“This is the first time Nigeria’s quota is being slashed to 66,000. If the deadline lapses, the country risks a permanent downgrade, while other countries are seeking increases in their quotas,” the statement noted.
IHR urged President Tinubu to coordinate with governors to immediately release advance payments to NAHCON to enable it to meet the Saudi payment schedule. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has set December 21, 2026, as the deadline for payments on the Nusuk Wallet platform and January 4, 2026, for the final settlement of service fees.
The group expressed concern that only about 20,000 Nigerian pilgrims have registered so far, leaving NAHCON in a precarious financial position. It assured that any funds advanced by the government would be fully refunded once pilgrims complete their payments.
IHR also acknowledged that late preparations and delays in registration contributed to the low turnout, urging timely action to avert the risk of Nigeria’s further demotion among major Hajj-participating nations.
