Hajj 2026: Private Operators Seek Refund of $975,000 Service Charges from NAHCON

Private Hajj and Umrah tour operators in Nigeria have asked the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to refund service charges paid for their allocated 2026 Hajj slots, following their placement under the Business-to-Client (B2C) model for the pilgrimage.
 
Hajj Reporters learnt that the private operators were initially registered under the Business-to-Business (B2B) model, which placed them under Nigeria’s Hajj Mission for the 2026 exercise. However, operators alleged that NAHCON later wrote to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to migrate them to the B2C model after contracts had been signed with Rawaf Mina, an allegation the commission has denied”.
 
“NAHCON had initially written to the Ministry of Hajj to place Private Hajj Companies under Hajj Missions, which allows us to operate Business to Business and sign contracts with approved Saudi-based Hajj Service Providers. We collectively agreed to engage Rawaf Mina to serve us this year, but we are surprised to find out that we have been put under Hajj Mubarasha to operate under direct Hajj.
 
However, a source in NAHCON familiar with the issue said the Private Tour Operators should rather blame themselves for their failure to agree on one service provider when NAHCON allows them to do so.
“They can’t be demanding a refund of service charge when they are the ones that creates the problems for themselves. Why is it so hard to agree on a single service provider early? Why are the leadership of both unions insisting on their preferred service providers? Why do they refuse the neutral options given to them by NAHCON?
 

Under the B2C arrangement, private operators are restricted to service providers listed on the Saudi Nusuk Hajj platform and are required to pay fixed package prices without room for negotiation. Unlike the B2B model, they have no discretion in selecting service providers. These arrangements completely denied Private Operators leverage to negotiate for a lower rate – an opportunity they enjoyed under the Business-to-Business model. The price of services in B2C is significantly higher than the Hajj under missions
Saudi authorities explained that the B2C model involves two categories of providers: a Camp Operator, responsible for Mina camp services including catering, and a Service Provider in charge of accommodation, transportation, and catering in Makkah and Madinah, as well as reception and logistics. Both are automatically assigned through the platform.

Sources said the private operators are now demanding refunds because NAHCON no longer plays an operational role in their Hajj arrangements this year. Each company reportedly paid $100 per pilgrim as a service charge to NAHCON. With 9,750 slots allocated to private operators, the total amount in dispute stands at about $975,000, estimated at roughly ₦1.4 billion.
 
NAHCON has since 2019 relied on internally generated revenue, including service charges, to fund its operations without recourse to federal government subventions.

Observers warn that a refund could significantly affect the commission’s financial capacity to manage the 2026 Hajj operations, marking what would be an unprecedented development in Nigeria’s Hajj administration.