No fewer than thirteen pilgrims out of over 95,000 from Nigeria lost their lives during the 2023 Hajj.
One person each from Lagos, Benue, FCT, Yobe, Borno and Plateau lost their lives while Kaduna and Osun lost two pilgrims each. The tour operator lost three.
Dr Usman Galadima, the Head of Medical Mission, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, confirmed this on Sunday, July 2 at the pre-Arafat meeting held in Makkah.
Speaking about the development, Dr. Galadima said, “We have lost sadly about 13 Nigerian pilgrims. We lost seven before the Hajj rites commenced. Within the five days of Hajj, we lost six. Most of them lost their lives at Arafah. Many went to Jabal ar-Raḥmah (mount Arafah) and were exposed to direct sunlight and develop heatstroke and collapsed. Attempt to rescucitate them failed. May Allah forgive them their shortcomings and grant them entry to al-janna firdaous. Ameen.”
In a related development, NAHCON is seeking refund from the leadership of Saudi Company for African Non-Arab Countries.
This was due to the poor feeding of over 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims at the just concluded Hajj 2023.
The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan stated this at the just concluded meeting of NAHCON Management, representatives of AHOUN and Chairmen of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agency and Commissions with the Saudi company at their Head Office in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Alhaji Hassan called on the Saudi company to subsequently return the feeding arrangement for Nigeria to manage.
Recall that the Saudi authorities last year returned a sum of SR542, 033, equivalent of N107, 864,567 to Nigeria, being refund for the poor feeding services rendered by the Saudi Company of Mutawwifs for pilgrims from African non- Arab Countries during the 2022 Hajj.
