…Calls for refunds, tighter oversight on animal sacrifice
The Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, Media Monitoring Team has reported significant gaps between pilgrims’ expectations and services provided during the 2026 Hajj operations in Mina and Arafat.
The team made the observation in its assessment report covering feeding, pilgrims’ welfare, official presence, orientation, and Hadaya services in the two holy sites. The report was signed by the team’s chairman, Nasiru Lawal.
On feeding services in Mina, the monitoring team observed that meal distribution was not adequately coordinated, pointing out that while some camps received meals early, others experienced considerable delays.
“Although the approved quantity of meals was largely maintained, the quality of food supplied in some instances fell below acceptable standards,” it stated.
Consequently, IHR called for refunds to be made to states where meal supplies were missed entirely or where food quality did not meet approved standards for pilgrims.
For pilgrims’ welfare and official presence, the team observed a shortage of officials in some state pilgrims’ tents. Many officials were also virtually unreachable during visits by the monitoring team.
“While some state officials wore their uniforms, others were dressed in ihram, making it difficult for pilgrims to identify and approach them for assistance.”
“However, on a positive note, staff of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, demonstrated commendable commitment throughout Mina. IHR members observed NAHCON personnel across the Nigerian pilgrims’ camps, either attending to pilgrims or assisting in meal distribution in their official uniforms,” it stated.
On the conduct of pilgrims and religious orientation, the IHR team based its observations on random tents in Mina.
It recommended that NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards introduce mandatory lectures on discipline, moral values, and expected religious conduct before pilgrims proceed to Mina.
Such orientation, it said, would help strengthen adherence to the spiritual objectives of Hajj and promote better behaviour among pilgrims.
The IHR team also observed with concern the lack of transparency surrounding Hadaya, animal sacrifice, for Nigerian pilgrims.
“There appears to be no clear regulatory framework governing the collection of payments and implementation of the exercise, leaving many pilgrims vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous officials.
“While some states successfully conducted the Hadaya exercise and established committees to supervise it, others merely collected payments from pilgrims without providing verifiable evidence that the sacrifice was carried out,“ it stressed.
IHR, therefore, urged NAHCON, in its oversight capacity, to develop and enforce a standard framework for the collection of payments and implementation of Hadaya in future Hajj operations.
This, it said, would enhance transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the process.
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