Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj have raised serious concerns over poor access to medical services and delays in the issuance of Nusuk identification cards, which are affecting their movement and welfare in Makkah.
Several pilgrims from Plateau State said they had been unable to access the Haram two days after arriving in Makkah due to missing Nusuk cards. Similar issues were reported by Katsina officials redirected to Madinah. Though NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, confirmed efforts are ongoing to resolve these issues through coordinated WhatsApp platforms, frustrations remain high.
Usara further said “Some pilgrims received their NUSUK but misplaced them between Madinah to Makkah; therefore have been cautioned to safeguard them securely. A WhatsApp group has been created for state representatives, NAHCON and the service providers strictly to address NUSUK card issues as they occur and for daily updates until the end of the Mashair rites
In a bid to address the Nusuk card delays, NAHCON held an emergency meeting with state Hajj officials and service providers in Makkah, led by Deputy Coordinating Officer Mr. Alidu Shutti. The session resolved to assign Nusuk Desk Officers to all state delegations and launch a centralized digital system for tracking and issue resolution. Meanwhile, medical care remains a major concern, as pilgrims and officials reported the absence of clear information on NAHCON clinics in Makkah. Stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention from NAHCON and State Pilgrims Welfare Boards to prevent further hardship and ensure pilgrims’ safety and access to essential services.
An official from Katsina State who just arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jedda informed HAJJ REPROTERS that they were made to proceed from Jeddah to Madina because of absence of NUSUK CARD. “We are supposed to go to Makkah to prepare ground for our pilgrims but we have to proceed to Madina because we don’t have NUSUK CARD and this will create challenge for us.
However, a reliable source in Saudi Arabia said the issue of NUSUK CARD goes beyond the explanation “The NUSUK Card is done with flight manifest as pilgrims arrived Madina. Flight manifest being submitted is different from database of pilgrims that arrived and it creates serious challenges for the Saudi based service providers to promptly generate the NUSUK.
Another concern raised is the absence of medical personnel or access to designated medical centers, leaving vulnerable pilgrims at risk. Calls have been made for immediate deployment of healthcare teams or a published list of accessible health facilities. In the interim, pilgrims are advised to seek temporary care from local pharmacies or hospitals.
An official of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, who confided in HAJJ REPORTERS, said, “We don’t know the location of NAHCON Clinics in Makkah, as I speak with you. Some of our pilgrims who arrived from Madina need medical attention, but we can’t locate the clinic here in Makkah”
“Previously, NAHCON announced and publicised the location of Clinics in Makkah even before pilgrims began to arrive in Madina, I mean, when Dr Kana was the head of NAHCON’s medical team. It is unfortunate that less than 13 days to the commencement of the movement of pilgrims to Makkah, NAHCON has not announced the location of Medical Clinics in Makkah, the official laments
Someone told us the Medical Centre is located at NAHCON’s Makkah office at Ummul Ujud, a place that even State officials can’t locate easily, much more about pilgrims.
However, a NAHCON officials who crave anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue informed HAJJ REPORTERS that a clinic has been set up at Shara Mansur, and he had informed state officials of the location of the clinic
It will be recalled that the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, travelled along with the NAHCON Chairman to Saudi Arabia to inspect facilities for health services, where they gave assurance of top-notch health service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims
Stakeholders emphasise the urgent need for coordinated responses from State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and NAHCON to prevent further distress.
