CSO Demands Review Of 2025 Hajj

A civil society organisation (CSO), the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to conduct a comprehensive review of the 2025 hajj exercise.

In a statement issued yesterday by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed, the group emphasised the need for a transparent and fact-based assessment of this year’s operations to forestall a repeat of the service lapses experienced by Nigerian pilgrims.

IHR urged NAHCON to establish an open and inclusive platform where stakeholders can carry out an honest appraisal of the entire hajj process. The group cautioned against what it described as “self-congratulatory posturing” and instead advocated for critical self-examination guided by verifiable facts.

While acknowledging improvements in some aspects, particularly the initial phase of airlifting pilgrims and services in Mina, IHR flagged significant concerns that it believes require urgent investigation.

One of the most alarming, according to the group, was the infiltration of the pilgrims’ registration database by individuals with criminal records. The statement noted that suspected kidnappers were apprehended during outbound and return flights, raising questions about security screening protocols.

In addition, IHR drew attention to the poor handling of medical services during the pilgrimage, citing cases of inadequate care in both Makkah and Madinah. Of particular concern was the case of a nine-month pregnant pilgrim from Zamfara State who gave birth during the hajj, an incident the group said highlighted serious lapses in medical and eligibility screening.

The organisation described as embarrassing the delays in paying allowances to ad-hoc officials in Makkah, and the mismanagement of flight manifests. Similarly, it decried the shortage of bed spaces for pilgrims in Madinah and the poor location of accommodations in Makkah, which kept many pilgrims far from the Grand Mosque and hindered their spiritual activities.

“There is a need to revisit pilgrims’ accommodation guidelines to prevent a recurrence of this situation during the 2026 Hajj,” the statement added.

Looking ahead, IHR said preparations for the 2026 Hajj had already begun and called on NAHCON to begin implementing the newly released 2026 Hajj calendar by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The group warned that the timeline leaves no room for delays, especially in matters of pilgrims’ registration and service delivery in Saudi Arabia.