The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has issued a heatwave advisory to all Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, urging them to avoid outdoor movement between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. due to dangerously high temperatures, Okay.ng reports.
The warning comes as Saudi Arabia’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) projected daytime temperatures to spike between 40°C and 47°C, accompanied by poor visibility and possible thunderstorms. The NCM has advised all pilgrims to exercise caution as they perform religious rites under intense weather conditions.
Speaking at a media briefing in Makkah on Monday, Abdullahi Usman, NAHCON chairman, disclosed that the commission convened a meeting with state pilgrims’ welfare boards and agreed that no pilgrim should be outside their tents in Mina or Arafat during the peak heat hours.
“Yesterday we called all the stakeholders. We met with them and mandated them to announce and tell their people that nobody is allowed to be out of the tent from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.,” Usman stated.
He emphasised that this year’s temperature levels are “not normal”, and the health of pilgrims must remain a priority.
“It is not advisable to go out because the temperature is not normal this year. We also advised them to continue drinking water. If it is necessary to be outside, let them go with water in hand. Let them take their umbrellas and use them, just because the temperature is not normal,” he added.
Urging broader support for public awareness, the NAHCON chairman called on the media to help reinforce the commission’s safety instructions.
“So, media, please, you are our eyes; you are our voice to the public. Help us tell our people to regard this instruction,” he said.
A total of 64,188 Nigerian pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
