According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), a total of 14 Nigerian pilgrims have passed away in Saudi Arabia during the 2023 hajj operations.

During a post-Arafat meeting with stakeholders in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Usman Galadima, the chief of operations and head of the NAHCON National Medical Team, revealed this information.

Mr. Galadima provided an explanation stating that out of the 14 pilgrims who passed away, seven of them died prior to Arafat, six during the five-day Mashair (the central period of Hajj), and one after Arafat.

He further elaborated, "During the Mashair, we recorded six deaths, four in Arafat, and two in Mina. Additionally, we had already lost seven pilgrims before Arafat, and just recently, I received information about the demise of another pilgrim. This brings the total number of recorded deaths to 14." The NAHCON official clarified that the mortality rate was similar to that of 2019.

In addition to the fatalities, the official from the Hajj administration disclosed that the medical team identified three cases of chickenpox during the core hajj period. To prevent the spread of the disease, the affected pilgrims were promptly relocated from the area.

Mr. Galadima also mentioned that the team documented two childbirths during the Hajj ritual in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. He explained that one of the pregnant women gave birth while on the road, while the second woman was taken to a clinic and safely delivered.

He emphasized the importance of comprehensive pre-Hajj medical screenings along with the issuance of a certificate of medical fitness. He further stressed that elderly pilgrims and those with critical illnesses should be discouraged from participating in the symbolic devil stoning at Jamrat due to the associated physical exertion.

Goni Sanda, the head of aviation at NAHCON, revealed that the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria would commence on Tuesday.

He stated that the evacuation of the pilgrims back to Nigeria would strictly follow the policy of "first in, first out." Additionally, he explained that the Saudi authorities have implemented a policy where air carriers would not operate at full capacity during the first two weeks. This is due to the high volume of traffic and the large number of aircraft involved in the evacuation process for pilgrims from various countries. Furthermore, he mentioned that virtually all planes would depart from a single airport, the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.