As preparation for the 2026 Hajj heats up, fresh concerns have emerged over alleged financial mismanagement at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) following revelations that the Commission paid for thousands of unused hotel bed spaces in Makkah during the 2025 Hajj exercise, an expenditure estimated at ₦1.5 billion.
According to official service records, NAHCON booked 6,268 bed spaces across several licensed hotels and clinics in Makkah, paying a total of SR9,108,505.53 on the E-track platform. However, 3,186 of those bed spaces remained vacant, representing SR3,927,601.95 wasted, which amounts to ₦1,519,353,300 at the prevailing exchange rate of ₦386.84 per riyal.
A breakdown of the hotel allocations shows large blocks of unused accommodation across multiple facilities:
1. Al-Mashaer Hotel – Kairouan (License 11489)
* 104 rooms, 520 beds
* Amount Paid: SR1,247,999.30
* Status: Vacant
3. Esnad Al-Mashaer (License 12275)
* 140 rooms, 595 beds
* Amount Paid: SR892,499.27
* Status: Only 146 bed spaces utilized
4. Waf Abi Umar (License 14410)
* 97 rooms, 410 beds
* Amount Paid: SR902,000.16
* Status: Vacant
5. Al-Abrah Clinic (License 457)
* Amount Paid: SR228,499.21
* Status: Utilized
6. Rashid Silver Clinic (License 418)
* Amount Paid: SR1,065,899.40
* Status: Utilized
7. Amjad Al-Garar – Raafat Ramzi Al-Ketbi (License 12615)
* 208 rooms, 819 beds
* Amount Paid: SR1,228,501.98
* Status: Only 484 bed spaces utilized
8. NAHCON Facility
* 251 beds
* Amount Paid: SR200,802.42
* Status: Vacant
9. NAHCON Facility
* 525 beds
* Amount Paid: SR420,003.36
* Status: Vacant
10. NAHCON Facility
* 696 beds
* Amount Paid: SR556,796.71
* Status: Vacant
Asalah Al-Maqam (License 14170)
* 321 rooms, 1,577 beds
* Amount Paid: SR2,365,503.72
* Status: Fully utilized
The cumulative allocation left unused across all hotels totals 3,186 vacant bed spaces, raising questions about planning failures, overbooking, and possible negligence within the Commission.
Sources who speak with Hajj Reporters are wondering how NAHCON committed such huge sums to facilities that were never occupied.
They argue that funds wasted could have reduced hajj fares or improved service delivery for pilgrims, many of whom complained about the high costs of the 2025 pilgrimage.
NAHCON has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations as demands grow for transparency and accountability in the management of Hajj resources.
However, an inside source who prefers anonymity due to unauthorisation to speak on the matter said, “NAHCON actually secured those accommodation spaces in anticipation that the country will utilise its booked space during the 2025 Hajj.
Countering the arguments, another source disagrees, saying the issue of booked space has to do with State pilgrims and not NAHCON officials.
“There was an EXCO meeting where a certain number of Hajj seats for officials were approved, so how did Chairman bypass that EXCO decision and solely pay for hotels that were not used with millions of naira remains unclear.
