The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed concern over breaches in medical screening protocols that allowed some pregnant women to embark on the Hajj pilgrimage, despite guidelines barring them from doing so due to health risks.
Speaking with journalists in Madinah, the Commissioner for Planning, Research, Information, Statistics, and Library Services, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, acknowledged the incident involving a female pilgrim from Zamfara State who gave birth in the holy city on Tuesday.
Professor Yagawal noted that while such lapses are worrisome, it would be unfair to place full blame on state pilgrims’ welfare boards and commissions. He explained that insecurity in certain parts of the country has made thorough pre-departure screenings difficult to implement effectively.
“I am not holding brief for any state pilgrims board,” he said, “but we must admit that various factors and variables could contribute to such breaches.”
He emphasized that NAHCON remains committed to engaging with state Hajj officials to ensure stricter screening procedures, particularly for female pilgrims, to protect the lives of expectant mothers and their unborn children.
Commenting on another growing concern, Professor Yagawal condemned the activities of swindlers and extortionists, especially in Madinah, describing their actions as “disheartening and disgusting.”
“It is brazenly heartless for anyone, especially a Muslim, to exploit fellow pilgrims in the holy land,” he said.
He assured that both NAHCON and the state boards are taking proactive steps to educate pilgrims on how to guard against fraudsters, particularly regarding their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), sacrificial animal payments (Hadaya), and valuable items like gold or silver.
Professor Yagawal also appealed to the media to support these efforts by sensitizing pilgrims through their platforms.
