Concerns have been raised by the Kano State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, over what he described as the poor handling of pilgrims from the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) during the ongoing 2026 Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking through his deputy, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammadu Maharaz, the Amirul Hajj made the remarks while receiving NAHCON officials at the Kano Pilgrims Camp in Mina on Thursday.
He said pilgrims from Kano had encountered several difficulties since the commencement of the Hajj exercise, according to THE PUNCH.
He expressed particular displeasure that Kano pilgrims were among the last groups to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia, a situation he said resulted in avoidable hardship and anxiety for many intending pilgrims from the state.
“The airlift operations involving Kano pilgrims suffered repeated delays. 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 said.
He further explained that the delays disrupted the planned movement of pilgrims and exposed many of them to unnecessary stress during the sacred journey.
According to him, the late arrival of the contingents also reduced the time allocated for worship in Madina before proceeding to Makkah. He noted that most Kano pilgrims spent barely 24 hours, or at most two nights, in Madina instead of the usual four to five days enjoyed by other state contingents.
He added that this compressed schedule made it difficult for many pilgrims to fully engage in prayers and other spiritual activities in the holy city.
The Amirul Hajj also criticised the quality of food provided to pilgrims in Madina and Jeddah, stating that the meals served were below acceptable standards. He further alleged that in some cases, pilgrims were not served food at all, describing the situation as regrettable given the cost of the Hajj package.
Another major concern raised was the non-issuance of Nusuk cards to some Kano pilgrims, which he said affected their ability to perform certain Hajj rites smoothly. He disclosed that several pilgrims were restricted in movement due to the absence of the cards, which are required for access to key holy sites and services.
“At one 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.
He noted that the situation caused significant hardship, particularly for elderly pilgrims and women, and generated serious concern among officials and stakeholders from Kano State. He stressed that pilgrim welfare should remain a central priority for all agencies involved in Hajj operations.
The Amirul Hajj called on NAHCON to urgently address the identified challenges to prevent a repeat, especially during the return airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria. He expressed optimism that the return journey would be better coordinated and free from the current difficulties.
In response, the Director of Training and Research at NAHCON, Prof. Abubakar Abubakar, assured the Kano delegation that all issues raised would be addressed appropriately by the commission.
He tendered an apology for the operational setbacks and inconveniences experienced during the exercise, adding that steps were already being taken to improve services for pilgrims.
He also thanked the Kano leadership for formally presenting the concerns and commended the state’s pilgrims for their patience, discipline, and restraint despite the challenges faced.
Prof. Abubakar reaffirmed NAHCON’s commitment to ensuring the welfare, comfort, and successful conduct of all Nigerian pilgrims throughout the Hajj operations.
