Nigerian Pilgrims Safe After Makkah Hotel Fire in Saudi Arabia, NAHCON Confirms

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that all the 484 Nigerian pilgrims in a hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which was affected by a fire incident, are safe and accounted for.
The incident occurred around noon (KSA time) yesterday.
The affected hotel, identified as Imaratus Sanan, was accommodating pilgrims from six Nigerian Private Tour Operator Companies.
Despite the scare, NAHCON has reported no casualties, adding that all pilgrims have been safely relocated to Mina.
A section of Imaratus Sanan Hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, where 484 Nigerian pilgrims were accommodated, was affected by a fire incident, which occurred yesterday.
A statement signed by Assistant Director of Information and Publications Division, Fatima Usara, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, noted that emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading all over the building.
The statement read: “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that all 484 Nigerian pilgrims affected by a fire incident at their hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah are safe and accounted for.”Following the incident, NAHCON’s Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Usman, accompanied by the Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, promptly visited the site.
Their visit, according to the statement, was to assess the situation and ensure the welfare of the affected pilgrims was prioritised.
Expressing concern during the visit, Abdullahi “ordered for immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation.”
He also “commiserated with the affected pilgrims, assuring that the Commission will provide every possible support within its capacity to cushion the impact of the incident.”
According to the statement, inspections of the new building have already been completed, and arrangements for resettlement are in progress.
NAHCON also appreciated the swift actions of Saudi Arabia’s emergency services and the cooperation of the hotel staff in managing the situation.

It stated that further updates regarding the incident would be communicated as necessary.