by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
A fire broke out on Saturday at a hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where 484 Nigerian pilgrims were staying, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed.
According to a statement by NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Sanda Usara, the incident occurred around 12:00 noon Saudi time at a hotel located on Shari Mansur Street. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and all affected pilgrims have since been safely relocated to Mina.
Usara credited the swift response of Saudi emergency services and hotel staff for containing the fire quickly and preventing it from spreading further.
In the aftermath of the incident, NAHCON Chairman/CEO Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, along with Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, visited the site to assess the situation and oversee the welfare of the affected pilgrims.
During the visit, Professor Usman expressed concern and directed the immediate relocation of the pilgrims to alternative accommodations. He offered words of comfort to the group and assured them that NAHCON would provide necessary support to ease the impact of the event.
“We thank Almighty Allah that no lives were lost in this unfortunate incident,” the statement quoted Professor Usman as saying. “NAHCON will work closely with the affected tour operators to ensure a smooth transition for the pilgrims. We have already inspected the new building and finalized arrangements for their resettlement.”
The NAHCON leadership also expressed appreciation for the rapid response from Saudi emergency personnel and the cooperation of the hotel staff.
Further updates will be provided as necessary, the statement added.