(SINL NIGERIA) Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate was at the Nigerian Hajj Affairs Office on Monday 24th March 2025 to discuss with management of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on health care support for Nigerian 2025 Pilgrims.
Prof Pate informed the gathering that Federal Government is ready to work with NAHCON on provision of healthcare in three phases; pre-Hajj, Hajj period and at the post Hajj to ensure a successful healthcare delivery operation for the 2025 Hajj.
He said his ministry will help in providing medicines and medical equipments as well as the Yellow Card in good time. Prof Pate reiterated Federal Government’s commitment in giving priority to its Pilgrims’ wellbeing.
In his welcome address, the NAHCON Chairman/CEO Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman thanked the minister for honouring NAHCON’s invitation to inspect its medical facilities and equipments in Makkah.
He also solicited for more support from the Federal Government in providing ambulances which are desperately needed for the Hajj operations.
In his remarks, the Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal thanked the minister for the visit and also urged him to help provide the Commission with full functional ambulances as those available are out of service.
The Minister was taken round the facilities for inspection where he reaffirmed the necessity of having functional ambulances during hajj operations.
Consequently he promised that his ministry will do what it can considering the short time frame before the Hajj season sets in. Nevertheless Prof Pate promised to continue providing adequate medical assistance for Nigerian Pilgrims.
Suwaiba reports from Makkah, Saudi Arabia
