2025 hajj: Advance team to leave April 30 – NAHCON chair

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has stated that the advance team of the National Medical Team would depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on the 30th of this month. The chairman spoke during a programme on Freedom Radio Kaduna. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice […]

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has stated that the advance team of the National Medical Team would depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on the 30th of this month.

The chairman spoke during a programme on Freedom Radio Kaduna.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over their interventions on cash Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for intending pilgrims.

Prof. Saleh said the cashless payment method of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for pilgrims introduced by the CBN would have affected the commission’s arrangements for seamless 2025 Hajj exercise.

• 2,174 to perform Hajj in Kwara, inaugural flight for May 12
• Hajj: Undergo Medical Screening or forfeit your seats, Kaduna agency tells Intending Pilgrims

He noted that the advance team was inaugurated under his able leadership.

“The advance medical team was expected to be in Saudi Arabia at least nine days before the arrival of the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land.

“They will be adequately prepared for the tasks ahead of them. We assure our pilgrims that the team is more capable of attending to their health needs throughout their stay.”

The chairman further stated that it was imperative for the team to be on ground to ensure that all Nigeria’s clinics in both Makkah and Madinah are fully stocked with the necessary drugs and other sundry medical requirements.

He advised pilgrims with health challenges to disclose them to relevant authorities for proper documentation, adequate provision of medicaments, and or professional advice.

He stated, “I also call on state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions to adequately educate their pilgrims on the need to guard themselves against the forecasted heatwave in the holy land during this year’s Hajj exercise.

“All pilgrims should avoid loitering and wandering aimlessly to protect themselves from sun and or heat strokes.”

On the BTA, he said the commission would work closely with relevant stakeholders, especially the CBN to resolve the issue.

Usman said, “Our major concern here is that the majority of Nigerian pilgrims are rural dwellers who are not conversant with Nigeria’s banking processes.

“However, ATM machines in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are grossly inadequate to cover the needs of over two or three million pilgrims. One hardly finds five of such machines in the vicinity the pilgrims stay in the two holy cities.

“But after this year’s Hajj exercise, the commission would sit with stakeholders under the guidance of the vice president to find a lasting solution to the challenges.”

Relatedly, the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency has announced that all registered intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj must undergo compulsory medical screening this week.

The screening includes mandatory pregnancy tests for female pilgrims.

In a statement issued by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi, the exercise is designed to assess the health status of pilgrims ahead of the spiritual journey.

Abdullahi clarified that the process is not intended to disqualify anyone but to ensure appropriate medical support, particularly for pilgrims with conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.

He added that pilgrims will receive two meals per day throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.

He emphasised that only tests conducted in government-approved hospitals will be accepted.

“The medical and pregnancy tests are compulsory. Any pilgrim who refuses to undergo them risks forfeiting their Hajj seat,” the statement warned.

Intending pilgrims have been advised to collect their medical cards from their registration officers before visiting the designated hospitals for the screening.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, has said inaugural flight for intending pilgrims from the state will commence on May 12 from Ilorin International Airport to Saudi Arabia.

Abdulkadir disclosed this on Sunday at the enlightenment programme organised for all its intending pilgrims for this year’s exercise.

According to him, Kwara will have four flights each boarding 550 to airlift the 2,174 intending pilgrims from the state.

He said the airlifting will be concluded on May 17, a day after the third batch and three days after the airlifting of the second batch.

In his remarks, chairman of the board, Prof Mashood Mahmud-Jimba called on intending pilgrims to desist from abusive words before, during and after the exercise due to its rich spiritual significance.

In his lecture, Grand Khadi, Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen advised the intending pilgrims to perform Hajj with the fear of Allah and shun any action that may violate their Hajj.

Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen tasked them to be patient while in the Holy land and remember the purpose for their journey.

In their separate remarks, the representative of Federal Airport Authority, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service and FOMWAN advised the intending pilgrims to follow the rules and regulations of Hajj while in Saudi Arabia and be good ambassadors of the state and country at large.

Highlights of the programme was a simulation of the Hajj rituals in the board’s premises highlighting the steps and procedures required from the pilgrims during the exercise in Saudi Arabia.