A faith-based civil society group, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state governors to provide financial support to prevent Nigerian pilgrims from missing the 2026 Hajj.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, who is attending the 5th Hajj and Umrah Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the organization urged government intervention to enable the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to meet payment deadlines set by Saudi authorities.
Muhammad said the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had given Nigeria two weeks to pay for its allocated 66,000 pilgrimage slots, warning that failure to do so could lead to a further reduction of the quota to 50,000. This marks the first time in two decades that Nigeria’s Hajj quota has been cut from 95,000.
“The Ministry threatens to further reduce the Nigerian quota if payments are not made promptly,” the IHR warned.
The group called on President Tinubu to mobilize governors to approve short-term loans for state pilgrims’ welfare boards, assuring that any funds advanced would be repaid once intending pilgrims complete their payments.
IHR also cautioned that non-compliance could permanently downgrade Nigeria’s Hajj participation status, while other nations are seeking to increase their quotas.
The Saudi authorities have set December 21, 2025, as the deadline for Mashaa’ir Camp fee payments via the Nusuk Wallet, and January 4, 2026, for final payments for camps and services.
According to IHR, fewer than 20,000 intending pilgrims have registered so far, attributing the low turnout to late preparations and the usual rush for registration during Ramadan.