RIYADH: Gearing up for Haj 2015, the Nigerian Haj commission made medical screening mandatory for their pilgrims in order to qualify them to travel to Makkah and Madinah.

The Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (MPWB) has made elaborate medical arrangements for the compulsory screening in order to assess the pilgrim’s fitness.

“Those who have applied for Haj 2015 have been informed that they must undergo a compulsory medical screening,” said sources at the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh.

MPWB Director Malam Bashir Mohammed told reporters that besides the medical screening, a four-phase orientation and educative sessions have been arranged for pilgrims wherein literature on Haj will be provided.

The final phase of the orientation program in the Federal Capital Territory involving practical aspects will be conducted on Aug. 1-2 at the Haj camp, he stated, adding that these sessions will be held at the permanent Haj transit camp over the weekend. The MPWB in Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria and the second fastest-growing city in Africa, has also directed all pilgrims intending to partake in Haj to undergo screening.

Pilgrims have been urged to report to the board office to collect their medical cards to the recommended hospitals in the state.

Moreover, the National Haj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) issued a statement urging pilgrims to attend the screening and orientation programs.

These sessions are aimed at educating pilgrims on all aspects of Haj operations ranging from Haj rites, public transportation system, morale and manners during the Haj, new policies introduced for this year’s Haj by Saudi authorities, policies adopted by NAHCON, and Saudi rules and regulations to be followed during their stay in the Kingdom.

It said that the very purpose of these programs is to serve as a platform for the better understanding of Nigerian Haj pilgrims and attempt to ensure a successful pilgrimage.


The medical screening is also a precaution in view of the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases that have surfaced in the West African country in recent times.

About 70,000 Nigerian pilgrims perform Haj every year.