The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has called for mutual dialogue to address challenges arising from service provision for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, even as Saudi authorities assured that measures were in place to safeguard pilgrims during this year’s Hajj amid global concerns over virus outbreaks in Africa and Europe.

NAHCON also appealed for constructive engagement and continuous consultation among stakeholders to resolve issues on time.

The commission’s appeal followed concerns raised by some private tour operators over what they described as substandard mattresses and extremely tight spaces allocated to private Hajj operators in the tent city of Mina, Makkah.

The operators told journalists that the condition of the bedding and the limited spacing between mattresses were not comfortable enough for pilgrims expected to spend five days in Mina.

Some of the operators said they would draw the attention of NAHCON to the situation, urging the service provider to urgently improve the quality of mattresses and expand the spacing before pilgrims arrive in Mina today.

Reacting to the concerns, NAHCON, in a statement, acknowledged that issues could arise in preparations for an operation as large and complex as Hajj, but urged stakeholders to adopt constructive engagement in resolving challenges.

“It is also important to note that the selection and allocation of Mashair service providers for this year’s Hajj were largely guided by the preferences and choices expressed by participating states during consultations with the Commission,” the statement said.

NAHCON therefore urged all stakeholders, including State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and officials, to prioritise dialogue, collaboration and solution-driven engagement with service providers rather than resorting prematurely to the media over concerns still being addressed through established operational channels.

Meanwhile, Saudi health authorities stressed that systems were in place to protect pilgrims, with about 1.5 million worshippers expected to participate in this year’s Hajj, which begins today.

Pilgrims from different parts of the world have already arrived in Makkah and visited religious sites, including the Grand Mosque and Jabal Al Nour, which includes Al Hira Cave, where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have received the first revelation of the Quran.

Security measures have also been strengthened at airports and other transit points following the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a public health emergency of international concern.

The emergence of hantavirus has also heightened global health concerns.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Authority said the kingdom’s epidemiological surveillance system was “fully prepared to safeguard citizens, residents and pilgrims,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

“Precautionary measures have been tightened for travellers arriving from neighbouring nations, including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and the Republic of the Congo,” it added.