Lagos seeks 2,500 Hajj slots for 2027

The Lagos State Government has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to increase its 2027 Hajj allocation to at least 2,500 slots.

The state said the increase was necessary to accommodate the growing number of intending pilgrims seeking to perform the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

This is contained in a statement on Sunday by Mrs Sade Adebayo, the state’s Public Affairs Officer.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Layode, made the appeal during an engagement with NAHCON’s pre-2027 Hajj assessment team.

It was reported that the team was led by Mr Anofiu Elegushi, NAHCON Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing.

Layode said the 1,224 slots allocated to Lagos for the 2027 pilgrimage were inadequate to meet the state’s demand.

He requested that NAHCON raise the allocation to a minimum of 2,500 pilgrims.

“Lagos has consistently performed well in Hajj operations,” Layode said, noting the state’s commitment to pilgrims’ welfare.

He recalled that Elegushi, his predecessor, airlifted 3,661 Lagos pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj before leaving office.

“Since I assumed office in 2024, we have sustained the tempo. We airlifted 1,600 pilgrims in 2026 and project not less than 2,000 intending pilgrims for 2027.

“I, therefore, appeal to NAHCON to reconsider Lagos and allocate additional slots to us,” the commissioner said.

Layode also raised concerns over the quality of services provided to Lagos pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj, particularly facilities at Arafat.

He described the tents and other facilities at the sacred site as substandard, saying they contributed to illnesses and complaints among pilgrims.

“The experience at Arafat was not satisfactory. The tents and facilities provided were below the standard expected for our pilgrims.

“This resulted in some cases of illness and complaints. We also had concerns with the aircraft deployed by Flynas,” Layode said.

He said the Flynas aircraft were insufficiently spacious and had inadequate restroom facilities, causing considerable discomfort for Lagos pilgrims.

The commissioner also appealed to NAHCON to approve clinic spaces in hotels occupied by state pilgrims during Hajj operations.

He said such clinics would enable state medical teams to provide first aid and treat minor ailments without putting additional pressure on NAHCON clinics.

According to him, the arrangement would also reduce unnecessary pressure on hospitals in Saudi Arabia by allowing state medical teams to handle minor cases.

Layode urged NAHCON to facilitate seamless transportation of drugs purchased by states for their pilgrims during Hajj operations.

He also appealed for the retention of the existing luggage allowance of two 23kg main bags and one 8kg hand luggage for the 2027 pilgrimage.

Earlier, Elegushi said the NAHCON team visited Lagos to brief the state on new developments in Hajj administration introduced by the Saudi Arabian Government.

He said the changes were aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, under which Hajj operations were increasingly becoming private-sector driven.

Elegushi said government would primarily focus on regulation and supervision under the emerging arrangement, particularly in aviation.

“Under the new arrangement, states are expected to establish companies that will operate as tour operators. This is part of the changes under Saudi Vision 2030,” he said.

He said individual states might struggle to operate effectively under the new model, urging South-West states to establish a joint private company.

“No single state can effectively do this alone, but the South-West states can come together and establish a joint private company,” he said.

Elegushi commended Lagos for its longstanding commitment to pilgrims’ welfare, describing the state as a pioneer in welfare-oriented Hajj services.

He said the tradition was initiated by President Bola Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State Governor.

Elegushi urged the state government to sustain and improve the initiative in future Hajj operations.

He assured that NAHCON would continue engaging state governments and other stakeholders to ensure smoother and more efficient Hajj operations.