Frustration reached a boiling point on Wednesday morning at the Minna Hajj Camp as intending pilgrims from Niger State staged a protest over the prolonged delay of their airlift to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
According to reports from the camp, the affected pilgrims, who constitute the final batch under the state’s 7th flight, have been stranded at the facility for over a week, following repeated postponements of their departure initially slated for May 20. The latest update rescheduled the flight to Friday, May 23, attributing the delay to “logistic and accommodation issues” as directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to reduce congestion in Madinah.
However, pilgrims expressed deep dissatisfaction, citing a lack of accommodation, food, and water at the camp during the waiting period. “We have been here since last Tuesday without proper care. We are stranded and nobody is telling us what is going on,” one pilgrim said.
In an earlier statement, the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board apologized for the inconvenience, assuring that all pilgrims would still be airlifted within the timeframe approved by Saudi authorities. The Board reiterated its commitment to a successful Hajj but urged understanding from the pilgrims amidst logistical constraints.
The board in a notification seen by HAJJ REPORTERS said, “The postponement is due to some logistical and accommodation issues that necessitated the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to direct the change of flight schedules for all states to forestall congestion in Madina”
Observers are calling on NAHCON and the state authorities to swiftly address the pilgrims’ welfare concerns and expedite their movement to Saudi Arabia.
