A fire incident occurred at the Imaratus Sanan Hotel in the Shari Mansur area of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The hotel was accommodating 484 Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj through private tour operators.
The fire, which broke out yesterday around noon (KSA time), caused significant structural damage to parts of the building. Fortunately, no lives were lost, as the pilgrims were away in Mina at the time, participating in the symbolic stoning ritual, one of the central rites of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its spokesperson, Fatima Usara.
The Commission expressed deep gratitude for the swift intervention of Saudi emergency services and hotel staff, whose efforts swiftly contained the fire and prevented loss of life.
NAHCON Chairman, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, visited the scene alongside Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti.
The officials assessed the extent of the damage and ensured immediate action was taken to safeguard the welfare of the affected pilgrims.
“Our priority is the safety and comfort of our pilgrims. We have arranged for their immediate relocation to alternative accommodation and will provide every possible support to minimise their distress,” Usman said.
The Commission has since completed arrangements for the resettlement of the pilgrims in a new facility. NAHCON officials have inspected the new accommodation to ensure its suitability.
Usman thanked Almighty Allah that no life was lost and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to working closely with affected private tour operators to restore normalcy for the pilgrims.
“We are grateful to the Saudi emergency services and the hotel management for their prompt and professional response, which helped prevent what could have been a far more devastating incident,” he added.
NAHCON assured the public that the well-being of all pilgrims remains its utmost priority.
