THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies have already started preparations for next year’s Hajj.
To this end, a committee made up of NAHCON and some States Pilgrim Boards and Agencies officials has been set up to enter into negotiations with accommodation providers in Makkah and Madinah.
The chairman of the Yobe State pilgrims board, Alhaji Mai Sanda, made the disclosure after a review/stocktaking meeting between NAHCON and state pilgrims boards and agencies held on Wednesday night at NAHCON’s office in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
He said the meeting resolved to explore avenues to accommodate entire Nigerian pilgrims in a cluster in Makkah and closer to the Grand Mosque, like what had obtained in recent years in Madinah.
Also speaking at a joint press briefing, NAHCON’s commissioner in charge of health matters, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the meeting reviewed all health matters as they affect Nigerian pilgrims during the just-concluded Hajj and in the future.
He stated that though there were some unpleasant health incidents and challenges, the situation this year was mild, compared to previous years.
Kana said the Federal Medical Team had resolved to continue operation until the return of the last pilgrim to Nigeria.
The commissioner stated further that a committee had been charged with visiting all hospitals and other medical facilities to ensure that all Nigerian pilgrims were accounted for.
Dr Kana noted that this year saw the lowest death rate of Nigerian pilgrims in recent years with 12 deaths recorded so far.
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