NAHCON Slashes Quota to 40,000, Warns ‘Group of 45’ Rule and Health Screenings are Now Mandatory for 2026

Intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj are facing a drastically different landscape as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) officially rolled out its “survival and reform” blueprint on Monday. Addressing stakeholders in Abuja, the new NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, made it clear that the era of “flexible arrangements” is over, replaced by a rigid, digitally-tracked system mandated by Saudi Arabian authorities.

The most striking change is the sharp reduction in slots. Nigeria’s quota for the state-sponsored category has been capped at 40,250 pilgrims. Ambassador Yusuf urged the public to understand that this isn’t a “snub” to Nigeria, but a global recalibration of Hajj logistics. However, with data already showing entries exceeding this limit, state boards have been ordered to “prune their lists” immediately to avoid a total deadlock.

Beyond the numbers, the “State of Harmony” during the pilgrimage will now depend on the new “Group of 45” policy. Every pilgrim will be assigned to a specific group that must stay together from departure in Nigeria until the return flight. This group-binding extends to hotel rooms and tent assignments in Masha’ir. “The days of pilgrims wandering off or changing groups last minute are gone,” a commission official noted. “Your ticket, your visa, and your Nusuk Card are now one digital soul.”

Health remains the biggest hurdle for many. NAHCON has empowered government-certified hospitals to strictly enforce a “fitness-to-travel” certificate. Those with chronic organ failure or severe mental health challenges are officially barred. The Commission issued a chilling warning: any pilgrim who manages to reach Saudi Arabia with a disqualifying condition will be deported at their own expense.

To ensure the 2026 exercise doesn’t start with the usual terminal chaos, NAHCON is also enforcing a new baggage rule. Gone are the days of multiple “Ghana-Must-Go” bags; pilgrims are now strictly limited to two 23kg suitcases. As the April 1st visa deadline looms, NAHCON is urging all state boards to finish their data uploads, or risk losing their precious few slots to more organized states.