The Amirul Hajj of Kano State and Emir of Gaya, Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the poor treatment allegedly meted out to Kano pilgrims by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The Amirul Hajj, who spoke through his deputy and Emir of Karaye, Muhammadu Maharaz, raised the concerns while receiving NAHCON officials at the Kano Pilgrims Camp in Mina.
He openly criticised several operational challenges faced by pilgrims from Kano State since the commencement of the Hajj operations.
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Complaints Over Delayed Airlift
The Emir lamented that Kano pilgrims were among the last batch of Nigerian pilgrims to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia, describing the delays as a source of unnecessary hardship and anxiety for intending pilgrims.
According to him, repeated delays in the airlift operations disrupted the movement schedule of many pilgrims and exposed them to avoidable stress during the sacred journey.
“If not for the timely intervention and commitment of the Kano State Government and the airline handling the operations, the situation would have been worse,” he stated.
He further noted that the late arrival of Kano contingents denied many pilgrims adequate time to comfortably worship in Medina before proceeding to Mecca.
According to him, many Kano pilgrims spent barely 24 hours or at most two nights in Medina, unlike pilgrims from some other states who reportedly enjoyed four to five days in the holy city.
Concerns Over Feeding, Nusuk Cards
The Amirul Hajj also complained about the quality of food served to pilgrims both in Medina and Jeddah, saying the meals provided fell below acceptable standards.
He alleged that in some cases pilgrims were not served food at all despite the huge amount paid for the Hajj exercise.
“The welfare of pilgrims should remain the top priority of every agency involved in Hajj operations,” he stressed.
The Emir further expressed concern over the non-issuance of Nusuk cards to some pilgrims, saying the development negatively affected the smooth performance of Hajj rites.
The Nusuk card is an official identification document required for access to certain holy sites and services during Hajj.
According to him, several Kano pilgrims were subjected to movement restrictions and forced into seclusion because they had not received the cards.
“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 revealed.
He said the situation particularly affected women and elderly pilgrims, subjecting them to severe hardship and discomfort.
Call for Immediate Action
The Amirul Hajj urged NAHCON to urgently address the identified problems and ensure that such operational lapses do not reoccur, especially during the return airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
He expressed hope that the return journey would be better organised and free from the difficulties currently being experienced.
NAHCON Responds
Responding on behalf of the commission, the Director of Training and Research of NAHCON, Abubakar Abubakar Yargawal, apologised for the inconveniences and operational challenges encountered during the Hajj exercise.
Professor Yargawal assured the Kano delegation that all the issues raised would receive adequate attention from the commission.
“Efforts are already underway to improve services to pilgrims and address the operational hitches experienced during the exercise,” he said.
He commended the Kano contingent for demonstrating patience, maturity, and restraint despite the difficulties encountered during the pilgrimage.
The NAHCON official further reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring the welfare, comfort, and successful Hajj exercise of all Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.