Hajj: Lagos demands hotel clinics, more pilgrims’ slots
September 15, 2026 2:21 am
The Lagos State Government has asked the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to allow states participating in the annual Hajj to establish clinics within pilgrims’ hotels in Saudi Arabia, arguing that the arrangement would provide faster treatment for minor illnesses and reduce pressure on NAHCON and Saudi hospitals.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Layode, proposed this last week when a pre-2027 Hajj assessment team from NAHCON, led by its Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, visited Lagos.
Layode said state-run clinic spaces would enable medical teams accompanying pilgrims to provide first aid and treat minor ailments closer to where pilgrims are accommodated, rather than sending cases that could be handled by state medical personnel to NAHCON facilities or Saudi hospitals.
He said the proposal was part of broader lessons Lagos had drawn from the 2026 Hajj, during which the state raised concerns about medical care, accommodation and other aspects of pilgrims’ welfare.
The commissioner said Lagos was prepared to deploy its medical resources to support pilgrims but required NAHCON’s approval and cooperation to establish the clinics within hotels.
He also raised concerns over the movement of medicines purchased by the Lagos Government for pilgrims, saying the state had been prevented from taking drugs into Saudi Arabia during the last pilgrimage despite the money spent to procure them.
Layode appealed to NAHCON to facilitate a system that would enable states to transport approved medicines for their pilgrims into Saudi Arabia, stressing that such arrangements would complement the proposed hotel-based clinics.
The Lagos Government’s request came against the backdrop of its criticism of some services provided during the 2026 Hajj.
Layode expressed dissatisfaction with the facilities provided by Muassasah at Arafat, describing the tents and other facilities as substandard and unsuitable for pilgrims.
According to him, the conditions contributed to illnesses among pilgrims and generated several complaints during the pilgrimage.
He also criticised the airline used to transport Lagos pilgrims, Flynas, saying the aircraft deployed for the state’s contingent were not sufficiently spacious and had inadequate restroom facilities.
The commissioner said the experience underscored the need for stronger attention to pilgrims’ welfare before the 2027 exercise.
The state also wants a larger allocation of pilgrims’ slots for the 2027 Hajj, saying the 1,224 slots currently allocated to Lagos would not meet demand.
Layode appealed to NAHCON to increase the allocation to at least 2,500 slots, citing the state’s participation in previous Hajj operations and the expected number of intending pilgrims.
“Lagos has consistently performed well in Hajj operations. Before my predecessor, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, left office, he airlifted 3,661 pilgrims in the 2023 operations alone,” he said.
“Since I assumed office in 2024, we have sustained the tempo. We airlifted 1,600 pilgrims in 2026, and we are already projecting not less than 2,000 intending pilgrims for 2027. I, therefore, appeal to NAHCON to reconsider Lagos and allocate additional slots to us.”
Layode also appealed to NAHCON to retain the current luggage arrangement for the 2027 pilgrimage, under which pilgrims are allowed two 23kg main bags and an 8kg hand luggage.
He argued that the arrangement was more convenient than the previous single 32kg bag, which he said restricted the amount of luggage pilgrims could carry.
Responding to the concerns, Elegushi said the NAHCON team was in Lagos to brief the state on developments in Hajj administration following reforms introduced by the Saudi Arabian Government.
He said the reforms were being driven by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and had resulted in greater private-sector participation in Hajj operations, with the Saudi Government focusing increasingly on regulation and supervision.
Elegushi said the changes would require Nigerian states to rethink their participation in Hajj operations, including the establishment of companies that could operate as tour operators.
He, however, acknowledged that individual states might not have sufficient capacity to operate such companies independently, suggesting that South-West states could establish a joint private company.
The proposed shift towards greater private-sector involvement could give states a more direct role in organising services for their pilgrims, although such operations would remain subject to regulatory oversight.
Elegushi commended Lagos for its longstanding emphasis on pilgrims’ welfare, saying the tradition dated back to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure as governor of the state.
He urged Lagos to sustain and improve the arrangements it provides for pilgrims.
The NAHCON commissioner also advised Lagos to educate pilgrims on the appropriate use of hospitals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to avoid indiscriminate use of the facilities.
He said NAHCON had also approved two companies to produce pilgrims’ bags in an effort to ensure quality and prevent the distribution of substandard bags.
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