A civil society organisation, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has alleged cases of passport substitution in some states following the reopening of the data upload portal for the 2026 Hajj registration.

The group said it uncovered the practice during ongoing monitoring of the registration process but did not name the affected states. According to IHR, some officials of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SMPWBs) are allegedly collecting fresh international passports from intending pilgrims and charging amounts higher than the Hajj fare earlier announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, IHR claimed that the newly collected passports were being substituted with those already in the custody of the boards to enable data upload before the deadline.

“If confirmed, the alleged practice suggests an attempt to replace pilgrims who had already completed their payments with new entrants willing to pay higher sums, particularly in states that have exhausted their allocated Hajj slots,” Muhammad said.

The organisation called on NAHCON and the state pilgrims’ welfare boards to strengthen oversight of the registration process to prevent abuse and protect intending pilgrims.

IHR also urged pilgrims to remain vigilant and avoid submitting new passports or making additional payments where official allocations have been exhausted, warning that such actions may signal attempts at substitution.

The group noted that its warning aligns with a recent advisory by NAHCON, which stated that payment for the 2026 Hajj has closed and cautioned the public against making fresh payments through unofficial channels.

IHR stressed that swift intervention by the commission is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the registration process and protect those who have already paid the approved Hajj fare.