The South-South pilgrims’ tents in Muna were inspected by officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by the Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance (PPMF), Prince Aliyu Abdulrazak.
A statement from the commission by Abdulbasid Abba and Muhammad Ahmed Musa said the NAHCON inspection team, which included members of the Award and Assessment Committee, held an interactive session with pilgrims from various South-South states as part of NAHCON’s annual inspection exercise aimed at evaluating the conduct of the 2026 Hajj operations and gathering feedback on services rendered during the pilgrimage.
During the session, Prince Abdulrazak conveyed the goodwill message and prayers of the NAHCON Chairman/CEO Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba, for an accepted Hajj and Eid-el-Kabir greetings to the pilgrims. He also commended pilgrims from the South-South region for their discipline and good conduct despite challenges encountered during the exercise.
Officials and pilgrims from the zone acknowledged improvements recorded in several aspects of this year’s Hajj operations while presenting observations and recommendations for better future exercises.
Pilgrims from Enugu State raised concerns over overcrowding, inadequate bed spaces in tents, and poor hygiene conditions caused by water shortages in some toilet facilities during their stay in Muna.
The Delta State delegation congratulated the NAHCON Chairman and management for their commitment to the successful conduct of the Hajj exercise. However, they expressed dissatisfaction with the feeding arrangements, noting that many pilgrims were unfamiliar with the meals provided.
They also called for greater national unity during pilgrimage activities and urged the Commission to ensure broader inclusion and improved representation to enhance the overall experience of Nigerian pilgrims.
The delegation further appealed for the appointment of more Ulama to continuously educate and guide pilgrims from the region, noting that the South-South comprises minority Muslim communities that require more intensive sensitisation and orientation on Hajj rites.
They also stressed the importance of timely dissemination of information and the inclusion of translators and speakers of various Nigerian languages and dialects to address the diversity among pilgrims.
Pilgrims from Cross River State highlighted challenges related to limited tent space and questioned the location of Nigerian pilgrims’ tents at around the end of Muna. They also appealed for the inclusion of more Nigerian local dishes in feeding arrangements to suit their cultural preferences.
The Bayelsa State delegation appreciated NAHCON’s efforts and acknowledged the support and guidance provided throughout the pilgrimage exercise.
A representative of the officials commended the accommodation and feeding arrangements in Madinah, describing them as excellent, but noted that services in Muna and Arafat fell below expectations. The representative urged NAHCON to strengthen its supervision process and to ensure a more thorough scrutinisation of the service providers before contract approvals.
Pilgrims from Edo State commended the Saudi authorities for improved amenities and acknowledged noticeable improvements compared to previous Hajj exercises.
They also appreciated NAHCON’s openness to feedback aimed at improving future operations. However, they recalled challenges experienced in one of the hotels in Madinah, where there was a toilet facility issue before it was eventually resolved.
The pilgrims further complained about an accommodation located far from the Haram in Makkah, contrasting it with their better experience in Madinah.
Edo pilgrims also recommended the inclusion of state volunteers in monitoring and supervisory teams to improve coordination and communication between pilgrims and officials. Concerns were equally raised about the quality and suitability of meals served to pilgrims.
The Imo State delegation praised NAHCON for significant improvements recorded during the 2026 Hajj exercise, particularly in transportation, accommodation, feeding arrangements, flight operations, sanitation facilities, and the overall coordination of activities in Madinah, Muna, Muzdalifah and Makkah in general.
The delegation assured the Commission that pilgrims from Imo State would continue to conduct themselves responsibly and positively represent both the state and Nigeria.
A female pilgrim from the state appealed for the inclusion of more Nigerian dishes in future feeding arrangements.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Imo Pilgrims Welfare Board commended NAHCON for its commitment and urged both officials and pilgrims to fear Allah in all their dealings. He encouraged Nigerian pilgrims to continue projecting a positive image capable of competing favourably with pilgrims from other countries.
Responding to the concerns raised, a member of the Assessment Committee assured pilgrims that all complaints, observations, and recommendations would be carefully documented and reviewed.
The committee reiterated NAHCON’s commitment to continuous improvement in service delivery and pledged that lessons learned from the 2026 Hajj exercise would be utilised to strengthen future Hajj operations.
The session concluded with prayers for the acceptance of the pilgrims’ Hajj and for continued success in future pilgrimage exercises
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