6 Nigerian pilgrims die, 30 mental cases reported as Hajj rites begin

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Usman Galadima, disclosed that the 524-member  medical team posted to seven clinics in Makkah and Madinah,  had so far attended to 15, 860 and recorded six deaths since the commencement of 2023 pilgrims operation on the 26th May, 2023.

He also said 30 of the pilgrims had psychiatric issues, seven pilgrims had fractures and eight cases of communicable diseases were recorded.

Galadima also hinted that NAHCON would be operating 18 clinics to care for pilgrims at the Mashã’ir sites.

Galadima said: “For the well-being of Nigerian pilgrims, we have put in place emergency response, ambulances in good shape; we shall continue health education and awareness campaigns.

“We will assist as many people as possible. Those we can take care of, we will, those we cannot, and we will take them to Saudi Hospital. We have been managing those with mental health in our clinics. And all of them will likely perform Hajj because they are a bit stable now.”

READ ALSO: Pilgrims warned against absconding, tarnishing Nigeria’s image

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Private Tour Operators says it has airlifted all the 95,000 Nigerians to join millions of other Muslims in Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj slated to commence Monday, June 25.

NAHCON, which started the airlift operations 25th May, 2023, concluded the exercise on 24th June, 2023.

Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allocated 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria.

Of this figure, NAHCON gave 75,000 slots to 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and shared the balance of the remaining 20,000 among private tour operators.

READ ALSO: Pilgrims warned against absconding, tarnishing Nigeria’s image

Briefing stakeholders early Sunday morning during the pre-Arafah conference in Makkah, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, said all the 95,000 pilgrims were successfully airlifted.

The NAHCON boss, who attributed the success of the airlift operations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government and the support of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the feat was last achieved about 10 years ago.

The chairman noted that every Hajj exercise was an experimentation in which new problems encountered were tackled and reviewed to prevent future occurrences.

He expressed hope that this year’s operation would go down in history as the most outstandingly successful Hajj ever witnessed in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Pilgrims Welfare Board (OSBWB) has appealed to pilgrims over alleged poor treatment in the Holy land of Makkah.

The appeal came on the heels of protest by the pilgrims who were said to have rejected poor food served to them in Makkah.