The Kano State Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, has expressed concern over what he described as the poor treatment meted out to pilgrims from the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The Amirul Hajj, who spoke through his deputy, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammadu Maharaz, made the complaint while receiving officials of NAHCON at the Kano Pilgrims Camp in Mina on Thursday.
He said pilgrims from the state had faced several challenges 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.
“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 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 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 to 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 about the quality of food served to pilgrims in both Madina and Jeddah, saying the meals provided fell below acceptable standards.
He said that in some instances, pilgrims were not served food at all, a situation he described as unfortunate considering the amount paid 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 Nusuk cards, which are mandatory for access to some holy sites and Hajj 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.
According to him, the development subjected many pilgrims, particularly women and the elderly, to severe hardship.
“The challenges generated serious concern among pilgrims and officials from Kano State. The welfare of pilgrims should remain a top priority for all agencies involved in Hajj operations,” he noted.
He therefore urged NAHCON to urgently address the problems to prevent a recurrence, especially during the return airlift of pilgrims to Nigeria.
The Emir expressed hope that the return journey would be better organised and free from the difficulties currently being experienced.
Responding, the Director of Training and Research of NAHCON, Prof. Abubakar Abubakar, assured the Kano delegation that all the issues raised would be adequately addressed by the commission.
He apologised for the inconveniences and operational hitches experienced during the Hajj exercise, adding that efforts were already underway to improve services to pilgrims.
He thanked the Kano State leaders for informing the commission of 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 success of all Nigerian pilgrims.
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