The recent birth of a baby by a Nigerian pilgrim from Zamfara State in Madinah has ignited widespread concern over the persistent breach of medical screening protocols by Nigerian pilgrims during Hajj.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, comes despite clear and long-standing health regulations by Saudi Arabia and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) prohibiting pregnant women from participating in the pilgrimage.
The Saudi Ministry of Health’s 2025 Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers explicitly bars individuals in the final two months of pregnancy, as well as those with high-risk pregnancies, from undertaking the Hajj.
These restrictions are designed, according to the Kingdom, “to ensure the safety of pilgrims and reduce the risk of medical emergencies during the physically demanding pilgrimage.”
Additional guidelines also disqualify individuals suffering from major ailments such as kidney, heart, lung, or liver disease, cancer, dementia, and infectious diseases like tuberculosis and whooping cough from participating in the holy exercise.
Yet, this incident is not isolated. During the 2023 Hajj, NAHCON confirmed at least nine cases of pregnant Nigerian pilgrims, with three deliveries and one miscarriage recorded. The Commission had then issued strong warnings and threatened sanctions against State Pilgrims Welfare Boards found culpable.
Despite these repeated warnings, it appears the medical screening system remains flawed. State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and travel agencies are officially responsible for conducting thorough pre-Hajj health screenings, which include compulsory pregnancy tests for female pilgrims, in accordance with NAHCON’s Guidelines on Medical Services for Hajj Operations. However, reports suggest these protocols are often ignored or compromised.
In some states, the screenings are not conducted at all. In others, officials reportedly overlook test results, enabling pregnant women to travel and violate both Nigerian and Saudi health laws.
The incident has triggered outrage among concerned Nigerians. Many took to social media to question how a woman at full term was able to make the journey undetected.
“When it comes to Nigeria, anything is possible, a whole pregnant woman. How did she intend to perform Hajj with a nine-month pregnancy?” wrote Aminu Abdullahi on Facebook.
“How did she beat the protocols, including medical tests, to arrive in Madinah with pregnancy?” asked Hassan Ubali.
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Mahmud Sabonwuse added: “If with all the pregnancy test and check before departure, a nine-month pregnant woman still scaled through to Saudi Arabia to give birth, then it’s either those doing the test are not professionals, or there is serious collaboration. This is seriously undermining the Nigerian process in doing things properly.”
Responding to the growing concerns, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Planning, Research, Information, Statistics and Library Services, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, acknowledged the seriousness of the matter while speaking to journalists in Madinah.
He expressed dismay over how the expectant mother bypassed pre-Hajj medical checks but admitted the situation was complex.
“It is difficult to place full blame on the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and agencies due to factors such as insecurity in parts of the country, which may limit effective screening,” Yagawal stated.
Nevertheless, the Commissioner reaffirmed NAHCON’s commitment to improving oversight and collaboration with state authorities to safeguard pilgrims.
“NAHCON will continue to engage state handlers to ensure diligence in the screening of their pilgrims, particularly the female pilgrims, to safeguard the life of the pregnant pilgrim and her foetus.”