By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

A fire broke out earlier today, Saturday, June 7, 2025 at a hotel accommodating Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, but no casualties were reported, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed.

This confirmation is contained in a statement by Fatima Sanda Assistant Director, Information and Publications Division, for Chairman/CEO NAHCON2025.

The incident occurred around 12:00 noon (KSA time) at Imaratus Sanan Hotel on Shari Mansur Street, which was housing 484 Nigerian pilgrims under the care of six private tour operator companies.

Emergency services in Saudi Arabia responded swiftly to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading through the building. All the affected pilgrims were safely evacuated and are currently in Mina, preparing for upcoming Hajj rites.

In response to the incident, NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, led a high-level delegation to the scene to assess the situation. He was accompanied by the Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and the Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti.

During the visit, Professor Abdullahi expressed gratitude that no lives were lost and immediately ordered the relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation.

He assured them that NAHCON would provide full support to cushion the impact of the unfortunate incident.

?We thank Almighty Allah that there were no fatalities. The safety and comfort of our pilgrims remain our top priority,? he stated.

The Chairman and his team have already inspected the alternative lodging and confirmed that arrangements for resettlement have been concluded.

NAHCON also commended the prompt response of Saudi emergency services and the cooperation of the hotel staff, which helped to minimize damage and ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

The commission assured the public that all affected pilgrims will continue to receive the support they need and promised to release further updates as necessary.

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