NAHCON Responds as Pilgrims Report Accommodation Delays in Mina
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has responded to complaints by some Nigerian pilgrims over delays in securing accommodation in Mina, as thousands continued arriving at the tent city ahead of the core Hajj rites.
Hajj Gazette reports that several pilgrims were yet to settle into their designated tents as of the time of filing this report, with concerns emerging over congestion and coordination at some camps.
A pilgrim from Borno State alleged that they arrived in Mina around Zuhr prayer time only to discover that the available tents had already been occupied.
“We were brought here since Zuhr, only to find the tents filled up while officials were nowhere to be found,” the pilgrim said.
Reacting to the situation, Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at NAHCON, said the Commission had earlier conducted inspections in Mina alongside state officials to ensure proper allocation and coordination of tent spaces.
“Before the arrival of the pilgrims, the Chairman himself visited Mina alongside officials from the state authorities. After the visit, NAHCON stated that every state should verify and confirm its allocation,” she told Hajj Gazette in a WhatsApp message.
According to her, the Commission also instructed that any observed challenge or complaint should be formally communicated for immediate attention.
“However, we did not receive any such complaint,” Usara stated, explaining that some of the accommodation challenges may have been caused by the conduct of certain pilgrims within the camps.
“If some pilgrims did not get accommodation space, it may not be unconnected to the disorderly conduct of some pilgrims. We received reports that some individuals occupied mattresses meant for two persons and also prevented others from entering their allocated tent,” she said.
She disclosed that the Chairman of the Commission, Ismail Yusuf Abba, personally toured the camps and directed officials to immediately resolve any identified issues affecting pilgrims.
“Wherever any problem is identified, NAHCON officials should immediately intervene and resolve it,” she added.
The development comes as Nigerian pilgrims continue moving into Mina in preparation for the Day of Arafah and other major Hajj rituals.
