NAHCON Orders Refunds for Unregistered 2026 Hajj Pilgrims

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has mandated that states refund unregistered pilgrims intending to participate in the 2026 Hajj to Saudi Arabia, as the visa deadline approaches. This directive was issued during a strategic meeting held at NAHCON's headquarters in Abuja, attended by various stakeholders, including board members and state pilgrim welfare board chairmen.

NAHCON's newly appointed chairman, Ismail Yusuf, clarified that Nigeria's Hajj quota for 2026 has been reduced as part of a global adjustment affecting several countries. The commission urged states to reconcile data and withdraw excess entries to prevent operational bottlenecks.

The Saudi authorities have set a firm visa deadline of the 1st of Shawwal, warning that failure to meet this deadline could result in qualified pilgrims missing the pilgrimage. NAHCON also announced a reduction in the yellow card fee from 5,000 to 2,000 Naira and emphasized strict monitoring of airline performance during Hajj operations.