NAHCON Denies Allegations of Hajj Slot Diversion for 2027

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed allegations regarding the diversion of 5,000 Hajj slots for the 2027 pilgrimage, calling the claims unsubstantiated. This response follows a report by THISDAY Newspaper that suggested private operators demanded an investigation into the alleged diversion.

Shafii Sani Mohammed, Head of Information and Communications Division at NAHCON, stated that stakeholders should seek clarification on Hajj administration issues but must support allegations with evidence. NAHCON emphasized that the approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj is 50,000 slots, which includes 35,000 for States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 15,000 for licensed private Hajj tour operators.

The commission noted that the private-sector slots were allocated to licensed operators under seven approved lead companies, complying with Nigerian regulations and Saudi guidelines. NAHCON criticized the reliance on anonymous sources in the allegations and suggested that the controversy was largely commercial due to competition among operators for limited slots.