Hajj from Nigeria · checked 2026-09-19

Hajj from Nigeria: how the national system works

Nigerians get Hajj places through National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators, against a quota of 50,000. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.

How Hajj registration works Estimate the cost

2026 quota50,000 pilgrims

Responsible authorityNational Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators

RouteNational quota system

Hajj 1448 (approx.)Mid-May 2027

Vaccination documentsMeningococcal ACYW, polio and yellow fever

Saudi missionsAbuja and Kano

Saudia nonstop fromAbuja and Kano

Umrah visa routeLicensed Umrah operator files it

How Hajj registration works in Nigeria

NAHCON allocates Nigeria's national quota across the 36 states and the FCT, each of which runs its own State Pilgrims Welfare Board or Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for local registration. Intending pilgrims register with their state board (or through a NAHCON-licensed private tour operator for the more expensive private/non-subvention package) during an announced window, and states manage their own waitlists when demand exceeds their allocated slots. NAHCON sets a Basic Travel Allowance-inclusive fare and publishes it before the season; payments are typically made in installments through designated banks. Nigeria's quota for 2026 was cut by about 30% from the prior year after NAHCON reported earlier underutilization of its allocation, a reminder that unclaimed slots can be reassigned. Keep copies of every registration receipt and payment confirmation, since these are typically what's required to resolve disputes or confirm a place if paperwork is questioned later.

Nigeria's quota was 50,000 for 2026, including 9,750 places for licensed tour operators, officials and support staff, and Saudi Arabia kept it at 50,000 for 2027 after declining a request for more. NAHCON now allocates state slots on a first-come basis: states that remit Hajj fares earlier secure places for their registered pilgrims, so register and pay with your State Pilgrims Welfare Board early. NAHCON warns each year that late payment leads to missed visas.

Step by step

Register with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria during its announced window; most countries open registration many months before Hajj and some run multi-year queues.
If applications exceed the quota, wait for the lottery or queue result; keep your registration current each year if the system requires renewal.
Choose between the government package and a licensed private operator's package where both exist, and pay only through the channels the authority names.
Complete the medical examination and vaccinations in time for the visa file; the national mission submits your details to the Saudi Ministry and receives your visa and Nusuk card.
Attend the pre-departure training and travel with your group on the scheduled flights.

Typical timeline

When	What happens
12 months or more before Hajj	Registration window at National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators; some countries run queues measured in years.
9 to 6 months before	Lottery or queue results; payment deadline; choice of government or licensed private package where both exist.
5 to 2 months before	Medical examination, vaccinations, passport submission; the national mission files visas with the Saudi Ministry.
Dhul Hijjah	Group flights on the mission schedule; Makkah Route countries clear Saudi immigration before departure.

Illustrative order of events; the authority publishes exact dates each season and they move with the Hijri calendar.

What it costs from Nigeria

NAHCON publishes an official Hajj fare each year that pilgrims pay largely in naira, with a Saudi-riyal component for local services; the figure is announced state-by-state and changes annually with exchange rates and Saudi service costs. We don't quote a fixed figure here, check your State Pilgrims Board's current announcement or our calculator. Rather than guess, compare current licensed operators' published price lists side by side, since the main cost drivers, hotel distance from the Haram, flight class, and group size, vary more between operators than between years.

The drivers are the same everywhere: camp category in Mina, hotel distance from the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, room sharing, flights from Nigeria, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.

Umrah from Nigeria while you wait

Nigeria is not on the Saudi eVisa list, so Nigerians apply through a licensed Umrah company with a Nusuk booking. The Saudi Ministry of Health lists Nigeria among countries that must present a meningococcal vaccination certificate, among countries that must show at least one IPV dose (or a type 2 containing OPV), and among yellow fever countries; NAHCON's 2026 circular adds proof of COVID-19 vaccination for Hajj. Saudia flies nonstop from Abuja and Kano, and there is a Saudi Consulate-General in Kano.

Full visa guide for Nigerians →

Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from Nigeria

These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for Nigeria specifically. The Hajj list is issued separately each season and is normally the same or stricter. Certificates are checked at the airport of departure and on arrival.

Requirement	What applies to travellers from Nigeria
Meningococcal (ACYW) vaccine	Required for every pilgrim from every country: conjugate vaccine within 5 years, or polysaccharide within 3 years, given at least 10 days before arrival. Travellers from Nigeria must carry a certificate that names the vaccine and the date; if the type is missing it is treated as valid for 3 years only.
Polio	Required. Travellers from Nigeria need at least one dose of IPV regardless of age; if IPV is not available, a certificate showing a type 2 containing oral polio vaccine (including novel OPV2) is accepted.
Yellow fever	Required. Nigeria is on the yellow fever list: everyone older than 9 months must hold a yellow fever certificate, which is valid for life from 10 days after vaccination.
COVID-19	Required only for higher-risk groups (over 65, pregnant, chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, blood disorders, immunodeficiency, cancer, chronic neurological disease): an updated 2025-2026 dose, a completed 2021-2024 primary series, or confirmed infection in 2025.
Recommended	Seasonal influenza vaccine; routine immunisations up to date; carry medication in original packaging with a doctor's note.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Health, Health Requirements for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H. The 1448 H edition may move countries between lists; check the MoH page before you vaccinate.

Saudi embassy and consulates in Nigeria

The Saudi Embassy in Nigeria is in Abuja, with a consular post in Kano (Consulate-General). Umrah visas are filed electronically by your licensed operator, so most pilgrims never visit. The embassy matters for document attestation, family-visit visas and problems with an application. Opening hours and services are on each mission's page at mofa.gov.sa.

Flying to Jeddah or Madinah from Nigeria

Saudia lists scheduled passenger flights from Abuja and Kano. Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International) is the gateway for Makkah; Madinah (Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International) suits pilgrims starting in Madinah. Gulf carriers, flynas, flyadeal and national airlines also serve these markets, often at lower fares with one stop.

Route list compiled from Saudia's published destinations on 2026-09-19; schedules change by season.

Mistakes to avoid

Registering through a sub-agent who is not on the national authority's approved list.
Missing the payment deadline after selection; unpaid places are reallocated and several countries report thousands of missed visas each year.
Expecting to book Hajj on Nusuk directly. Nigeria is not on the Nusuk serviced-countries list, so the national mission is the only route.
Leaving the medical file and vaccinations to the last month.

Practical tips

Register with your State Pilgrims Welfare Board, allocations and waitlists are managed at state level
Confirm any private operator is on NAHCON's current licensed list before paying
Watch NAHCON's deadlines closely, states that under-fill their quota can lose slots to other states
Complete required medical screening (yellow fever and meningitis vaccination) early
Keep all bank payment receipts for the Basic Travel Allowance-inclusive fare

Prepare properly

How to perform Hajj, step by step
Health and fitness preparation
How Hajj quotas work
Install the offline companion with the guided days of Hajj and duas

Questions pilgrims ask

Can Nigerians register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?

No. Nigeria is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators.

What is Nigeria's Hajj quota?

50,000 for 2026 according to the sources on this page. Quotas are agreed with Saudi Arabia each year and can change.

How much does Hajj cost from Nigeria?

Which vaccines do Nigerians need for Hajj?

Meningococcal ACYW, polio and yellow fever. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for Nigeria; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.

Can Nigerians do Umrah while waiting?

Yes, through a licensed Umrah operator with a Nusuk booking; Umrah has no quota.

Confirm before you pay. Checked on 2026-09-19 against the sources below. Quotas, dates, fees and vaccination lists change every season: confirm with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), through State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators, Nusuk Hajj and the Saudi embassy before booking. Spotted an error? Tell us.