By Lamara Garba
The Kano State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the poor treatment meted out to pilgrims from the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Amirul Hajj, who spoke through his deputy, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammadu Maharaz, made the remarks while receiving officials of NAHCON at the Kano Pilgrims Camp in Mina.
He openly complained about several challenges faced by pilgrims from the state since the commencement of the Hajj operations.
The Emir particularly lamented that Kano pilgrims were among the last batch of Nigerian pilgrims to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia, a development he said caused unnecessary hardship and anxiety for intending pilgrims from the state.
According to him, the airlift operations involving Kano pilgrims suffered repeated delays, adding that if not for the timely intervention and commitment of the Kano State Government as well as the airline handling the operation, the situation would have been worse.
He noted that the delays disrupted the movement schedule of many pilgrims and exposed them to avoidable stress during the sacred journey.
The Amirul Hajj further stated that the late arrival of Kano pilgrims to the Holy Land denied many contingents adequate time to comfortably stay and worship in Madina before proceeding to Makkah.
According to him, most contingents from Kano State barely spent 24 hours or, at most, two nights in Madina instead of the usual four or five days enjoyed by pilgrims from other states.
He explained that the situation rushed the activities of pilgrims and made it difficult for many of them to properly observe prayers and other spiritual engagements in the holy city.
The Emir also complained bitterly about the poor quality of food served to pilgrims both in Madina and Jeddah, saying the meals provided fell below acceptable standards.
He revealed that in some instances, pilgrims were not served food at all, a situation he described as unfortunate considering the huge amount paid by pilgrims for the Hajj exercise.
The Amirul Hajj also expressed concern over the failure to issue Nusuk cards to some pilgrims, saying the development negatively affected the smooth performance of Hajj rites by the affected persons.
He disclosed that several dozens of Kano pilgrims were forced into seclusion and faced movement restrictions due to the non-issuance of the Nusuk cards, which are mandatory for access to some holy sites and Hajj services.
“At a point, some pilgrims were kept inside buses for over five hours after arriving in Makkah because they could not disembark due to the absence of Nusuk cards for some of them,” he said.
According to him, the development subjected many pilgrims, particularly women and the elderly, to severe hardship.
The Amirul Hajj said the challenges generated serious concern among pilgrims and officials from Kano State, stressing that the welfare of pilgrims should remain a top priority for all agencies involved in Hajj operations.
He therefore urged NAHCON to urgently address the problems to prevent a recurrence, especially during the return airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
The Emir expressed hope that the return journey would be better organised and free from the difficulties currently being experienced by pilgrims.
Responding, the Director of Training and Research of NAHCON, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yargawal, assured the Kano delegation that all the issues raised would be adequately addressed by the commission.
Professor Yargawal apologised for the inconveniences and operational hitches experienced during the Hajj exercise, assuring that efforts were already underway to improve services to pilgrims.
He thanked the Kano State leaders for openly informing the commission about the challenges faced by their pilgrims and commended the Kano contingent for demonstrating patience, maturity and restraint despite the difficulties encountered.
The NAHCON official further assured that the commission remained committed to ensuring the welfare, comfort and successful Hajj exercise of all Nigerian pilgrims.
