Niger Pilgrim board embarks on mandatory medical screening for all intending pilgrims

By Daniel Ebi, Minna

In an effort to avoid an emergency health crisis in this year’s pilgrimage programme,  Niger State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has commenced a mandatory medical screening exercise for all intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj exercise.

The event was flag-off at the General Hospital  Minna in Chanchaga Local Government Area, Minna on Saturday.

 Executive Secretary of the Board, Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Aliyu, represented by Malam Ado Bello, the Director of Administration said the screening was aimed at  identifying and to  address any underlying health issues before pilgrims embark on the physically demanding journey to Saudi Arabia. 

He explained that the screening is a critical requirement for processing the 2026 Hajj visas for intending pilgrims.

According to the Executive Secretary, after the flag-off the mandatory exercise  it would be decentralized across the state, taking place at general hospitals or health  facilities in the 25 local government areas of the State

He called on the Intending pilgrims to visit the hospitals in the local government areas where they registered and made their payments to undergo the the screening 

In her welcome address, the Director Pilgrims Welfare Services of the Board, Hajiya Rukayya Muhammad Bawa said the screening will also help ascertain the medical fitness of intending Pilgrims to ensure that they are safe and healthy for the Hajj exercise.

She advised the Pilgrims to accord the health professionals maximum cooperation as they will undergo comprehensive tests just to make sure that they are safe and fit for the Hajj exercise.

In his remarks, the Director Operations of the Board, noted that the Medical Team Leader and the Coordinator Pilgrims of the Board urged the intending Pilgrims to participate and comply promptly with the exercise.

The highlight of the exercise was the commencement of the exercise with the Directors of the Board and the intending Pilgrims where they were subjected to a series of tests including blood pressure tests among others.