NAHCON: Crisis Over Absence Of Medical Facilities In Saudi Arabia Despite FG-sponsored 300 Medical Personnel

By Akinwale Kasali

The deaths of Adizatu Dazumi, a 75-years old Edo State born indigene and Alhaji Galeh Saleh, a prominent Abia State businessman, who was until his death the Chairman of the Lokpanta Cattle Market,  has exposed the failure of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to set up Medical Facilities and Clinic in Mecca and Medina, three weeks after their arrival  for the Holy Islamic Pilgrimage.

Thousands of Nigerians who had gone to the annual religious ritual have, allegedly, been left with no access to Clinic and other medical facilities set up by Nigeria, despite the huge amount of Naira spent by the  Federal Government to sponsor 300 Medical Personnel and procure drugs for Nigerians in the Holy Land.

There has always been  Government run Clinics for Nigerians who had gone to perform Hajj. Sadly, the over 60,000 Nigerians who had gone for this year’s Pilgrimage are left without medical welfare.

It would be recalled that on April 24th NAHCON inaugurated its National Medical Team in Abuja, led by Dr. Saidu Ahmad Dumbulwa, to oversee the screening and deployment of medical personnel for the pilgrimage.

The Commission approved over 300 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, for this year’s exercise.

However, more than three weeks after their arrival in Saudi Arabia, the personnel remain inactive, with no clinics set up for them to operate.

This deployment marks the largest medical team in NAHCON’s history, both in terms of personnel-to-pilgrim ratio and global scale.

It was alleged by stakeholders that the NAHCON leadership has exploited the medical team as a smokescreen to ferry allies and family members to Saudi Arabia under the guise of providing healthcare services for pilgrims.

This allegation comes despite earlier assurances from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, who, during an inspection of NAHCON’s medical arrangements in the kingdom on March 25, 2025, pledged improved medical support for Nigerian pilgrims.

In a statement issued by NAHCON’s Head of Public Affairs, Muhammad Musa, Professor Pate was quoted as saying, “Given the global health landscape-ranging from meningitis outbreaks to polio concerns, it is imperative we meet and exceed Saudi Arabia’s health requirements.”

Nigerian Medical Mission to Saudi Arabia is currently led by Dr. Sani Garba, with Abdullahi Danzabuwa overseeing pharmacy operations and Jummai Momoh heading the Nursing Unit.

Nigerian pilgrims began arriving in Medinah on May 9, 2025, but nearly three weeks later, NAHCON had yet to establish a single functioning clinic in either Medinah or Mecca as of Tuesday, May 27th, 2025.

It is being alleged that NAHCON’s inability to secure the required operating licences from Saudi Arabia authorities has stalled the establishment of the Clinics till now, prompting Nigerian Pilgrims requiring Medical attention to seek care at private Saudi clinics often at high personal cost, or endure long waits at public hospitals in the Arab country.

It was, however, gathered that NAHCON had contracted a Saudi firm to process the clinic licences, deviating from the traditional Government to Government approach, which has raised further concerns.

Officials of NAHCON it was gathered, allegedly, confirmed to Sahara Reporters that the Commission collected Six Saudi Riyals from each of the over 60,000 Nigerian pilgrims to cover Clinic Services amounting to a total of 360,000 Riyals, at the prevailing parallel market exchange rate of ₦430 to a Riyal.

This, however, translates to over ₦155 million which was reportedly paid to a Saudi firm for provision of healthcare facilities for Nigerians.

Despite this payment, Nigerian pilgrims in need of medical attention are currently relying on healthcare services provided by Medical Personnel deployed by State Pilgrims’ welfare Boards—a practice that contravenes Saudi regulations.

The idleness of the 300 Medical Personnel who were funded by the FG to Saudi Arabia has further raised concern, prompting Stakeholders and Nigerians to query NAHCON.

The funding of the 300 Medical Personnel by the FG for NAHCON may have gulped, at least, ₦10 million on each of the Medical Personnel, covering costs for official Hajj Visas, return Airfare, Masha’ir Services, accommodation, and a $2,000 Basic Travel Allowance, BTA.

The total expenditure is estimated at around ₦3 Billion.

This has, however, brought to fore the call for anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the composition of the National Medical Team; and also its failure to establish functional Clinics in Mecca and Medinah, and the multi-Billion-Naira budget spent on the initiative.