Di National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) don talk say Saudi Arabia don reject Nigeria request for increase in dia allocation for di 2027 Hajj, leaving di country with total quota of 50,000 pilgrims.

Di Commission talk say e formally engage di Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to seek additional slots because of growing demand from intending pilgrims across di country and requests from various State Pilgrims Welfare Boards for increased allocations.

But according to one statement by di commission on Thursday, Saudi authorities decline di request, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints for di holy sites and di Kingdom policy of adhering strictly to approved country quotas under di existing operational framework.

Under di allocation, Nigeria go get 35,000 slots for government pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed tour operators, bringing di total approved quota for di 2027 Hajj to 50,000 pilgrims.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, acknowledge di disappointment wey di decision fit cause intending pilgrims, state pilgrims' welfare boards and other stakeholders wey expect increase.

Yusuf talk say di Commission don explore available diplomatic and operational channels to secure additional slots but go respect di final decision of di Saudi authorities.

"We appreciate di deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand di expectations of states and stakeholders wey dey seek additional slots.

"While every effort was made to secure upward review, di Saudi authorities don communicate dia final position based on operational realities and capacity considerations," he talk.