The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has disclosed that no fewer than 15,083 Nigerian pilgrims received medical attention during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia, representing nearly one-third of the country’s total pilgrims population.

The figure was revealed during the Post-Arafat stakeholders’ meeting in Makkah, where officials reviewed the health and welfare situation of Nigerian pilgrims following the completion of the core Hajj rites.

Speaking at the meeting, Head of the Nigerian Medical Mission, Ibrahim Abubakar, said 8,303 pilgrims were attended to during the Mashair period alone, while total consultations in Makkah and Mashair stood at 12,630.

According to him, the cumulative number of pilgrims who accessed medical services since the commencement of Hajj operations in Madinah, Makkah and the holy sites has risen to 15,083.

He explained that the most common health challenges recorded among pilgrims included severe dehydration, heart-related illnesses, stroke, fractures, anaemia, rheumatism, migraine, hyperglycaemia and pancreatitis.

The medical mission also referred 15 pilgrims to hospitals in Makkah for specialised treatment, while several others were successfully managed through the commission’s clinics across the holy sites.

Dr Abubakar expressed concern over the impact of stress on pilgrims’ health, revealing that between 70 and 80 per cent of deaths recorded during the exercise were linked to heart-related complications aggravated by stress.

He further disclosed that about 50 pilgrims developed mental health disorders during the pilgrimage, attributing the development largely to physical and emotional stress associated with Hajj activities.

“We need greater awareness on stress management. Many pilgrims experience pressure long before arriving in Saudi Arabia, from raising funds for Hajj to coping with the physical demands of the pilgrimage itself,” he said.

The medical team urged pilgrims to prioritise rest, hydration and compliance with medical advice, while calling on Islamic scholars accompanying pilgrims to intensify sensitisation on health management during Hajj.

NAHCON also expressed concern over inadequate emergency medical infrastructure among state pilgrims’ boards, noting that only Lagos and Kogi states currently operate dedicated ambulances for their pilgrims during the Hajj exercise.

The commission urged other states to invest in emergency response facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce avoidable medical emergencies during future pilgrimages.

Earlier, NAHCON Chairman, Ismail Abba Yusuf, commended medical personnel, officials and stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the 2026 Hajj operations.

He acknowledged that although significant progress had been recorded, Nigeria still had considerable work to do in improving Hajj administration and pilgrims’ welfare.

“We are still far from where we should be. The lessons from this year’s Hajj will guide future reforms as we continue to improve our operations and services to Nigerian pilgrims,” Yusuf said. (Daily Trust)

Update news